Help- cleaner drank my gin!

[kayde12]

Hi all,
I’m new to mumsnet, but would really love some advice!

I’ve just signed up to a cleaning company and had my first clean, which I was thrilled about.
Then I noticed that half of my bottle of pink drink has gone!
I only got the bottle given to me as a gift last week from my sister in law.
My Dh doesn’t drink and I have my two ds in the house.
It was the cleaner definitely!
The company have been awful at getting back to me and sent me a poor email saying she said she didn’t drink it and was too early in the morning.

I feel really gutted and not sure how to move forward or get some sort of justice!!

The most obvious answer to most people on here seems to be the 13 year old!

But why? 13 year olds would metabolise alcohol much slower than a full grown adult, and after half a bottle of gin it would pretty damn obvious he was drunk. Its not "obvious" at all.

@MimiLaRue

I’m here thinking the exact thing.

There are corrupt people everywhere, in every institution and industry.

And there are such things as alcoholics.

@messolini9. First class post ....spot on 👌🏻
One of the best I’ve read on MN ...
OP I urge you to read and re read it ....

Incidentally... out with a group of mum friends last night ...
one ( who was always “that mum” at school and the wider community “). Repeatedly going on about her xxxx 14 yo would never do this or do that ...
the rest of us cringed ... she has NO idea about the half of what her dd is getting up to .... we’re too scared of the explosive reaction that we’d get if we broached the subject ....

Not in the cleaning biz!

Apparently all cleaners are moral pillars of the community who would never, ever do anything illegal or unethical!

Funny that- doesnt really account for the few people I know who HAVE had cleaners steal from them.....

But why? 13 year olds would metabolise alcohol much slower than a full grown adult, and after half a bottle of gin it would pretty damn obvious he was drunk. Its not "obvious" at all.

Because what a lot of teenagers do (as demonstrated on this thread) is decant it into a plastic bottle and share it down the park (or wherever) with their mates. I know this because I've done it and so did all of my friends. My cleaner on the other hand, has never nicked my gin.

Regardless of what the most obvious answer is you simply don't go around accusing people of stealing with no proof and trying to get them into trouble so you get 'justice'. I bet the OP hasn't punished her son on the off chance it was him that took it.

I wonder if in about 10 years time your ds will say “mum, you know that gin you thought the cleaner nicked? It was me”.

The cleaner may have stolen it.

The problem here is that the OP has immediately accused the cleaner of theft without proof. And instead of speaking directly to the cleaner went straight to her employer.

So this cleaner is left under a cloud.

Yes the son could have taken it. If he’d had it all himself then yes, I think Op would notice.

But back in the day, pilfered grog was poured into a pop bottle so it could be glugged in public by a group of giggly teens.

It could have been either of them. But on was accused anyway. Not really fair.

Sorry - one was accused. Not on.

Yes, a lot of kids will nick booze and share it amongst their mates. I don't think any one is suggesting the kid downed half a bottle ans the op didn't notice.

This is all a bit odd. Basically saying the cleaner is an alkie and downed half a bottle of gin in thr morning or nicked it. It's really unpleasant. There is no proof of either, and the woman could be completely innocent.

None of us here know who did it, it could have been the cleaner, it could have been the teenager, and it seems it could not have been the husband who is violently ill if he drinks anything at all and is a life long teetotaller due to it.

I'm pretty sure the OP drank it herself and was so blotto that she has forgotten she drank it at all.

I know this because I've done it and so did all of my friends. My cleaner on the other hand, has never nicked my gin

and I know friends who have had things nicked by their cleaner- so that isn't impossible either

That fact is- you dont know its the kid any more than you know it wasnt the cleaner.

OP do you have a drinks cabinet? Or was this the sole bottle of alcohol in the house? For some reason, if given a choice, I can't imagine a 13 yo sneaking out pink gin to share with his mates.
A cleaner with a sense of entitlement? Yes - now that I could imagine.

That fact is- you dont know its the kid any more than you know it wasnt the cleaner

Indeed, and OP doesn't know its the cleaner anymore than she knows it wasn't the kid. She's still accused her of theft to her employer though (and presumably not punished the kid)

Well the agency are not going to admit liability either are they?

Very difficult to prove without evidence, yes.
Not a nice situation for the cleaner, yes.
Not a nice situation for me, yes.

Factors why it isn’t ds;
He would have 4 week days to drink it and the last Sunday night.
I drop him to school everyday and collected from boxing and football every week day evening. So doesn’t go to the park after school in the dark with friends (like some has suggested)
Hasn’t shown any interest in alcohol at all. Certainty that it was him is slim.

Definitely not Dh, does not drink as previously stated.

Bottle was full and not open, given to me last Sunday.

Cleaner has lost her job or reputation got those fretting.

New cleaner, yes.

If the problem continues, well yes that will be a new thread for next week.

Thanks all

So the gin disappeared on the same day that the cleaner was there for the first time?

Up until her visit it was a full bottle (still sealed)?

Oops typo

Cleaner has NOT lost her job or reputation for those fretting.

Handled correctly, yes.

Came onto Mumsnet for advise and opinions, yes and thank you.

Will let you know if my ds or dh is sneaking alcohol next week.

Thanks

Yes @diddl

Cleaner has NOT lost her job or reputation for those fretting.

She might not have lost her job but you've certainly damaged her reputation. Mud sticks but you clearly don't care so well done on handling the situation so well. I hope you enjoy the rest of your gin.

Empty the gin into another bottle.

Fill the gin bottle with salt water and food colouring.

Your DS didn't need to drink it in four days, just syphon it off to give to his mates. Or maybe cleaner knocked it over and some spilled out and they're too embarrassed to say?

If the problem continues, well yes that will be a new thread for next week

I would have thought that if the cleaner had had a little - "refresher" - she would have topped the bottle up with water so you wouldn't know.

Your DS is a more likely culprit, I'm afraid. Has he had any of his friends round? (I think if one child drank half a bottle it would be pretty obvious and you'd still be getting his stomach pumped.)