Where's my gin gone?

[Flowerybasket]

I'm not a massive drinker, but I do like gin. I usually have several bottles open at once and have a couple maybe twice a week. I've just noticed this evening that one bottle that I know I didn't finish is missing, and the really nice bottle I got for my 40th birthday is significantly lower than I remember it, as is one other bottle. Now, given that I don't get drunk enough to accidentally drink too much, there are three options:

1 - husband (who hates gin) is secretly drinking it.

2 - kids (3 and 6) are getting through the childproof cupboard lock and drinking it

3 - my mother, who I have long suspected to have a bit of a drinking problem, has been at it while she stays with us.

We've had no other visitors recently who it could be.

Which do you reckon it is? And what do I do?

"Get your own bottle Mum, that was a birthday present"

3

As for what do you do... hide the gin but don’t tell anyone. Then see what happens.

Maybe I'll put thick black marker pen lines on all the bottles before she next comes to stay.

I don't think she's a full-blown alcoholic, but I'm pretty sure she's a bit more dependent on it than she should be. But I don't live near her, she doesn't openly drink excessively while she's here, so I can't be fully sure of her drinking habits. But her behaviour has recently got a bit more erratic.

This really is one more problem than I need right now.

When you finish your next expensive bottle of gin fill it back up with water and put it back in the usual place. Hide your new bottle somewhere safe. Laugh about gin thief getting their gin on with water and tonic.

Maybe when I next empty a bottle, I'll fill it with water and leave it on the worktop when she visits.

Ha, cross posted!

Great minds!!

Actually, she did once complain that a gin I poured for her didn't taste strong enough. I measured it with an actual measure and added one of those small cans of tonic. It was a regular drink.

It's your mum.

I have a combination of mother and housekeeper who do this.

Does my head in and stops me from opening bottles I'd love to try as once they're open they are free game.

I'd love to sack the housekeeper but don't live in the UK and would rather 'better the devil you know' than try to start again here. I wouldn't even be bothered if I could by a crappy bottle for her to take from. It's the fact they are lovely gifts that upsets me. I've questioned her and draw lines in Sharpie on all my bottles (not the drinks trolley look I was aiming for). My mother is beyond changing. Alcohol and nicotine are her only true loves.

The glaring lines drawn on the bottles does work (and will rub off glass). Also weighing/ photographing if you want sneaky proof, though my mum is so far gone she takes it anyway.

I'm also annoyed that this has soiled my Sunday night treat. My husband is taking the kids out tomorrow, I don't have to work, so I was going to have a gin and watch the Love Island reunion (don't judge!) but it doesn't feel as nice now that somebody's nicking my gin.

Obviously meant spoiled rather than soiled.....

If i confront her, it'll come round to criticism of me, any kind of tough conversation always does. I'll end up getting frustrated, she'll get all woe is me, and nothing will be solved.

She's my mum. I shouldn't be thinking like this. I think I've suspected some sort of issue with her for a while. But trying to sort it will be difficult. And not sorting it isn't good either.

I heard this in a captain Jack sparrow voice.

You can’t solve your mums alcoholism. And it is alcoholism. She’s stealing and hiding it. Most people would just ask!

So you either confront her and ask her to ask first because it’s rude. Or you can hide it and don’t have it around when she is.

I would go for the latter.

@Flowerybasket had to laugh at your post as I had a similar issue yesterday!! Went to get a g n t and, like you, I have 4 bottles opened at the same time. But they were ALL nearly empty! Then I remembered that my son had been home from uni for a few days and he had made us both a couple of drinks. I knew he made them strong but for heavens sake - not THAT strong!!

Hope you get your mum sorted out!! xx

I would be locking it all away for the next visit and put out bottle with water in instead :-D

My mum has been known to steal my alcohol. As such, I have to hide everything. She once "accidentally" drunk a whole bottle of special pink champagne that was a 30th birthday present that I hadn't even opened yet, her alcoholism just pisses me off.

I'm not sure of the point of this. You clearly know your small kids and husband are not drinking the gin, so why not just say I think my mother is an alcoholic and secretly drinking my gin when she visits?

You need one of these. £3 on Amazon.

I think I'll start hiding it. She's next due to visit in a couple of months.

What do you do about a potentially alcoholic parent though? As I say, I don't live near her, so can't be sure of the full extent. She lives alone, my siblings all live at least as far away as I do and see her even less. I have a weird relationship with her. On the surface we get along, but she can be very critical (worse since I had kids, apparently she could weep with how I parent them) and doesn't hide things she disapproves of. So I make a huge effort to keep the mood light. It's exhausting.

I don’t think it’s potential. It sounds like she is...

My mother is an alcoholic. I have minimal contact with her now.