Sister-in-law's drinking

[majormoo]

My husband and I have suspected that our sister-in-law may have a drink problem for a while because now and then she has arrived at family occasions/cinema etc slurring and appearing not quite right. We'd hoped it was not a big problem and I was wondering if she had an illness. We were deluding ourselves because my husband's brother has finally confided in him that he cannot cope any more. Whenever he comes in from work she is drunk. She is self employed and he isn't even sure how much she is working. Don't know what to do. We are sworn to secrecy so cannot ask advice in the real world. Cannot tell most of my friends why I have been so preoccupied (one though pulled me aside some weeks ago and said she was worried about sister-in-law). I know there are no quick fixes but what on earth do we do? It is so lonely for brother in law and miserable for my wonderful, kind but clearly unhappy sister in law.

You can seek advice via Al Anon without giving your sil's name or details.
Ultimately she has to decide whether to seek help for herself.

You must be there for your brother and their children (do they have any?). Is this drinking a new thing?

Thanks for responding. Don't think she is ready to stop. They don't have children (though would have liked them I think) and no it's not new but has reached a point where brother in law feels he cannot go on any longer. At big, more public, events she seems ok-we all went to a 40th recently with a free bar and she drank coke all night-it's more in private, in the daytime into evening it happens. Think my husband and I have sort of been aware of it for a few years but thought we were being over the top. She doesn't know we have even discussed it with brother in law. She wants to keep it quiet and she does say she'll stop to him. We'look try that Al Anon-thanks