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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to raise my husband's frequent cricket socialising and drinking?

50 replies

Annoyedcricketwidow · 13/09/2026 00:15

I'm not sure if I'm being unreasonable. My DH is very much into cricket and the season is just coming to an end.

He's got two matches a week (one evening and one weekend) and it's always the pub afterwards. This is fine, I find it a bit much and quite annoying (especially as we have a son who is 7 it would be nice to have him home more) but we still go on holidays etc in summer (I know some cricket families don't) and he's obviously allowed to have a hobby.

HOWEVER- and this is the crux- for the last 4 weekends straight he's been out with the team either Saturday or Sunday drinking, he's never leary or awful but has loads of drinks, i just find it way too much and really unhealthy and frankly, very off-putting. I want to say something but don't want to be controlling. He's mid 40s as well so is it not a bit old to get battered that much??! Then I know in cricket there is a lot of drinking so maybe this is just part of it? He's a 10/10 husband otherwise! AIBU to say something?

OP posts:
Annoyedcricketwidow · 13/09/2026 01:02

He came just before midnight tonight reeking of beer and I'm really annoyed to say the least..I'm unsure if it's worth causing drama though

OP posts:
FusionChefGeoff · 13/09/2026 01:03

He’s not a 10/10 husband. Mine is, on a good day, an 8/10 husband who loves cricket - but even he gave up the weekend games when we had kids. It’s a shit hobby if you’ve got a family and it’s even more selfish to then extend your free time by going to the pub.

Annoyedcricketwidow · 13/09/2026 01:06

FusionChefGeoff · 13/09/2026 01:03

He’s not a 10/10 husband. Mine is, on a good day, an 8/10 husband who loves cricket - but even he gave up the weekend games when we had kids. It’s a shit hobby if you’ve got a family and it’s even more selfish to then extend your free time by going to the pub.

That's the thing isn't it I don't even mind the playing, it's the time in the pub afterwards. I think I need to sit down tomorrow with him and have a serious conversation.

OP posts:
ShakyBake · 13/09/2026 01:08

I voted you're not being unreasonable as I think it's excessive and that's just not cricket

CypressGrove · 13/09/2026 01:12

Does your 7 year old pay cricket? I've got male friends who play cricket themselves and they also coach their kids teams etc so the whole club is part of the families social life. This sounds like its just your husband's thing though?

Annoyedcricketwidow · 13/09/2026 01:29

CypressGrove · 13/09/2026 01:12

Does your 7 year old pay cricket? I've got male friends who play cricket themselves and they also coach their kids teams etc so the whole club is part of the families social life. This sounds like its just your husband's thing though?

My little boy isn't interested in cricket unfortunately. To be honest it's not even the cricket it's more the drinking culture around it, and the going to the pub afterwards.

I think a serious conversation needs to happen tomorrow, I am so annoyed I can't sleep.

OP posts:
Annoyedcricketwidow · 13/09/2026 01:52

ShakyBake · 13/09/2026 01:08

I voted you're not being unreasonable as I think it's excessive and that's just not cricket

I kind of feel bad saying anything as my husband would not dream of telling me I'm going out too much etc (he's generally the most peace loving and laid back person you'll meet). Now I don't go out as much as him of course but when the cricket season is over he really doesn't go out much at all.

OP posts:
Ablondiebutagoody · 13/09/2026 02:01

I think that one weekend day of playing plus drinks afterwards during the cricket season is reasonable. Even if he came straight home after the match, your boy would be pretty much in bed. Team sports are a social thing. A few drinks afterwards are important.

Credittocress · 13/09/2026 02:11

Get wise. Other people have holidays, he’s making you feel lucky by making you think that you are getting more than others, when really he’s doing the minimum for your family.
Yes there will be opportunities to drink every week, it doesn’t mean everyone goes every week.

FlorenceLawrence · 13/09/2026 02:14

Don't talk to him while you're angry. Sit on it for now.
Maybe raise it when the season's over, in a more positive way? "Oh it's lovely to have you around at weekends now - did you think the drinking was getting a bit excessive?" sort of thing.
If he's a good husband, and it's his only social outlet, I don't think it's unreasonable.

Knockingatthedoor · 13/09/2026 02:33

That is an awful and unhealthy amount of alcohol he is drinking. You are right to be concerned about that, let alone the amount of time he is spending with his pals in the pub.I dont know why you are so apologetic about being upset about this. Having cricket as a hobby is pretty acceptable but having drinking as a hobby isn't.

Never heard of husbands been given marks out of ten before but I certainly don't think a husband who goes drinking for large amounts of time and comes home reeking of beer is a decent husband and father.

Annoyedcricketwidow · 13/09/2026 07:14

Thank you all..it's interesting because the responses are quite varied really! Some think it's acceptable some say it's awful. I'll have a good think about what to say to him.

OP posts:
hardshoulderr · 13/09/2026 07:15

You knew he played cricket when you met him

thornbury · 13/09/2026 07:17

Having a hobby is acceptable. Spending large amounts of family money in the pub is not, unless you can afford it. I'm not surprised you find him undesirable.

Annoyedcricketwidow · 13/09/2026 07:22

hardshoulderr · 13/09/2026 07:15

You knew he played cricket when you met him

Nope. He played loads as a child, then didn't for decades (he played a different sports in between but that was much less time consuming) and then nothing for a few years

He has only been playing two seasons now but it's getting way too much. I've hardly slept tonight and I'm really annoyed. I'll wait till I'm calmer and then sit him down and read him the riot act

OP posts:
ExtraOnions · 13/09/2026 07:57

The past 4 weeks, he’s been to the pub for drinks either on a Saturday or Sunday night? I fail to see the problem, people are allowed out. Whether cricket is imvolved, or not, it’s a night out at the weekend.

Cricket season last what 5 months, with a good few weekends rained off.

He’s in his mid-40s, not his mid 80’s.

Maybe you need to get a hobby yourself.

I can’t figure out what made you so angry you can’t sleep.

”Read him the riot act” about what ?

GingerAndTheBiscuits · 13/09/2026 08:03

Of all the sports DH has turned his hand to, cricket was always the worst for this.

How is he the next day, is he up with DS or moping around hungover? If it’s purely seasonal and he’s still functioning around it I’d be less bothered. But if it’s basically taking him out of commission for the whole weekend I’d probably want to talk about it before the next season starts.

sittingonabeach · 13/09/2026 08:11

ExtraOnions · 13/09/2026 07:57

The past 4 weeks, he’s been to the pub for drinks either on a Saturday or Sunday night? I fail to see the problem, people are allowed out. Whether cricket is imvolved, or not, it’s a night out at the weekend.

Cricket season last what 5 months, with a good few weekends rained off.

He’s in his mid-40s, not his mid 80’s.

Maybe you need to get a hobby yourself.

I can’t figure out what made you so angry you can’t sleep.

”Read him the riot act” about what ?

Edited

It’s a day and night out with the expectation that OP will be the default parent (probably for a large part of the following day too if he comes home steaming).

Annoyedcricketwidow · 13/09/2026 08:18

ExtraOnions · 13/09/2026 07:57

The past 4 weeks, he’s been to the pub for drinks either on a Saturday or Sunday night? I fail to see the problem, people are allowed out. Whether cricket is imvolved, or not, it’s a night out at the weekend.

Cricket season last what 5 months, with a good few weekends rained off.

He’s in his mid-40s, not his mid 80’s.

Maybe you need to get a hobby yourself.

I can’t figure out what made you so angry you can’t sleep.

”Read him the riot act” about what ?

Edited

Of course people are allowed out. What I'm less enthused about is him coming home reeking of beer rather than just have a couple of pints.

Right now I'm up with my son painting whilst he's in bed

OP posts:
Annoyedcricketwidow · 13/09/2026 08:20

To add, I don't think it's healthy having a binge this often

OP posts:
SeriouslyLikeWhy · 13/09/2026 08:32

I am completely with you OP. I made a similar post ages ago and got crucified for being annoyed at my partner being out until 3-4am when he goes out. Similar age. To me it’s mental that he still wants nights out like that and I’m so far past that I don’t even know where you’d go at that time. But like your husband, it only seems to be for part of the year. So may—August it was 2/3 times a month at weekends and once during the week. Now it’s settling down and he only goes out maybe once a month. A positive is at least there’s a hobby involved. My partner’s hobby just seems to be the drinking/social aspect. People called me controlling etc. but I think we’re all allowed to have our opinions and I think it’s perfectly acceptable to voice your concerns and compromise to something you’re both comfortable with. I’ve let it go as like you said, other than that he’s a great partner. And I’m hoping it dies down in years to come as a lot of his friends are younger and don’t have kids but getting to that stage now.

NerrSnerr · 13/09/2026 08:56

I’d he goes out all day and evening on a Saturday would he mind if you did the same on the Sunday? Does he take your son out on the other weekend day? Does he contribute to the household? Will he be getting school bags sorted and making lunch?

If he takes over on the one weekend day he’s there I wouldn’t mind so much, if the OP is still doing it all I’d be angry.

ExtraOnions · 13/09/2026 08:58

Annoyedcricketwidow · 13/09/2026 08:18

Of course people are allowed out. What I'm less enthused about is him coming home reeking of beer rather than just have a couple of pints.

Right now I'm up with my son painting whilst he's in bed

A “couple of pints” smells no different to 6 pints.

It’s one night out a week, over a period of 5 months.

It’s 8am on a Sunday nobody needs to be up painting with a 7 year old, certainly not two people.

Nothing in your replies has explained the “riot act” needing to be read.

… maybe you need to get your own hobby.

GingerAndTheBiscuits · 13/09/2026 09:03

It’s two nights a week, and someone has to be up with the 7 year old, why does it always have to be the OP?

Yewlez · 13/09/2026 09:07

I wouldn't be happy with my husband:

  • going out for the day and evening every weekend
  • going out drinking without me every weekend
  • drinking that much on even a semi regular basis let alone every weekend

Combine the three and I would be reconsidering the relationship unless something changed.

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