Noticed neighbour is dependent on alcohol

[Pusstachio]

I’ve noticed my neighbour slipping out during the day to quickly drink alcohol, dispose of the bottle in an on street bin and then pop back home. I’m not sure how often it happens- I noticed it a few weeks ago and convinced myself I was overreacting or actually I hadn’t even seen the bottle, it could have been a vitamin drink or kombucha or something else people knock back in a glass bottle, but now I’ve seen it twice more and smelt it on them.

Im not sure what to do. There are children, I’m certain their family know if I’ve noticed. I suppose it’s just troubling me. DH says leave it alone.

Sadly there’s nothing that you could do to stop an alcoholic from drinking - or at least unfortunately, that’s my opinion, as a child of an alcoholic parent. I spent so many years, and my family spent so much money, trying to help them break free from the disease with no sustained success.

If you meant more along the lines of questioning if you should tell their family, I am sure they will already know. Pointing it out is likely to just cause them to feel more embarrassed, ashamed, or isolated than perhaps they already do.

If ever you are worried for the safety of the children then please report that, or contact Drinkline for advice, but otherwise I would try not to get too involved or emotionally invested.

I hope that doesn’t sound too cold, it’s really kind of you to think about how you could help, but even if you were really close to the person there’s not a lot that could be done to help. The person needs to want change for themselves, and sneaking off to drink suggests they’ve already reached quite a bad point within their personal struggle.

Hopefully it’s just kombucha.

Unless you see any evidence that the children are being harmed or neglected, this is none of your business.

Are there children, are they driving a vehicle?

My name is Michael paine and I am a nosey neighbour. Mrs Jones at number 40 has been having a larger by the park bins. A bleedin sneaky larger mind. Not a lot of people know that I know that!

There are kids, they do drive but not at the times I’ve seen them drinking. I see no evidence of harm and would not want to give the family more stress by involving anyone else.

Im not trying to be nosey, I wfh and they have stood on my drive to do it. I think this is because we have a thick hedge which screens the view of this from their house.

It just made me very sad and I think I knew I couldn’t do anything. I suppose it was just keeping up last night.