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Alcohol support

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Original poster

If my husband..

35 replies

Vodkaquestion · 21/02/2026 08:49

only drinks once a week but drinks a full 70cl bottle of vodka.. does that mean he has a problem?

Not sure if I’m being silly or not asking this question. I don’t drink much, maybe 3/4 times a year.

OP posts:

KeepOffTheQuinoa · 21/02/2026 22:29

Vodkaquestion · 21/02/2026 09:29

Another thing is the smell the following day.

It’s not a boozy smell, I’ve never smelt anything like it but he literally stinks of it all day. We had a children’s activity we had to go to last weekend and I was so embarrassed because of this odd smell that was coming off him.

He comes to bed late, wakes me up, sometimes vomits through the night, spends most of the following day sleeping, then goes to bed early that night.

Thats revolting. The vomiting all night. And it’s really crap parenting,

Why on earth would someone do something that makes them feel so ill, and keeps them from enjoying time with their children?

This is what I would be asking him to explain / explore and answer within himself and address it.

And if he doesn’t, I would leave him.

And him turning it on you because you occasionally pick up a McD and eat a family size bar of Galaxy or whatever is him avoiding discussion and deflecting. I doubt your bad eating habits keep him up all night while you vomit, render you too ill to look after the kids at the weekend or cause him embarrassment because you smell.

mathanxiety · 22/02/2026 00:50

Vodkaquestion · 21/02/2026 09:06

When I’ve spoken with friends they say that if he’s only drinking once a week then it’s not a problem but I feel like it is.

I’ve tried to talk to him but he’s not interested in changing, said it’s a bad habit but I also eat bad sometimes so that’s just as bad as him drinking. He comes to bed late, wakes me up, sometimes vomits through the night, spends most of the following day sleeping, then goes to bed early that night.

We have children and although he’s a happy drunk, they still know he’s drunk, they’re old enough

Your husband is an alcoholic. He's in denial, and has no intention of stopping his regular 'drink til you puke and then check out of life the next day' routine.

Your friends are ignorant.

Sadly, you are the one with choices to make here. You are the sober parent of children who are seeing something that will be a burden to them for the rest of their lives.

I recommend you join Al Anon, for people affected by someone else's drinking.

mathanxiety · 22/02/2026 00:51

OrangeOpalFruits · 21/02/2026 22:18

There will probably be other stashes at work/in the car/disguised in water bottles/work thermos/sports bottle/behind the bath panel.Or miniatures.Sorry, OP.

Yes to this.

mathanxiety · 22/02/2026 00:53

Vodkaquestion · 21/02/2026 18:37

He honestly doesn’t drink at all throughout the week. I notice when he’s only had 1 drink as he acts differently and I would 100% know. He works 8am - 5pm so no opportunity to do it through the day.

He has nine hours every day to drink.

TicketyBoo11 · 22/02/2026 01:28

Revolting. Your children will remember this period of their lives, trust me. It will affect them. Put a stop to this, encourage him to get some help. Oh and stop making excuses for him.

Toseland · 22/02/2026 01:46

The smell is ketones, it can progress to be life threatening. It's a disgusting smell.
Sorry this is happening.

Fundays12 · 22/02/2026 04:00

Toseland · 22/02/2026 01:46

The smell is ketones, it can progress to be life threatening. It's a disgusting smell.
Sorry this is happening.

Agree with this a family member had the same smell. They died of alcohol induced liver and kidney failure.

OP I really think your husband maybe drinking at other times to. He has built up a huge tolerance to alcohol which suggests more frequent use than you know. Alcoholics will hide drink, pour it into juice cups, cans etc

DarkForces · 22/02/2026 04:37

Even if he's not drinking at other times that's a huge amount to put away each week. He has an alcohol problem because he's prioritising alcohol above his family and doesn't see any reason to stop. It's not comparable to eating a poor diet occasionally and the fact he's trying to leverage this is a bad sign.

Get help from an organisation that supports families of alcoholics and remember
You didn't cause this
You can't control this
You can't cure this

If he's not willing to stop he will destroy himself and take you all down with him. That smell is his body externally showing what he's doing to it. Prepare to leave and save yourself and your children from further harm.

OrangeOpalFruits · 23/02/2026 01:33

The vodka/rotting smell is well known. Please be vigilant with any drinks your children might have access to, e.g. bottles of squash, in case he has put vodka there to hide it.In the end, it doesn't matter whether or not he accepts he has a problem with alcohol, his alcohol use is destroying your marriage, and is a massive problem for you and your children.

Penguinsandspaniels · 23/02/2026 03:50

mindutopia · 21/02/2026 14:24

I think someone who can manage 70cl of vodka in one session (I’m a recovering alcoholic and could drink 1 litre in a day), is drinking more than once a week. It shows a really high tolerance for alcohol that you don’t tend to acquire through casual social drinking on a Friday evening. People who drink once a week don’t have an appetite for alcohol in that way. My suspicion would be he’s drinking smaller amounts throughout the week and the Friday is when he can finally drink as much as he wants.

Edited

100%

there is no way he isn’t drinking more other times

@Vodkaquestion it’s an issue as of his behaviour - sickness - hungover the next day - let alone health and the smell

your children notice it so I’m guessing are 6-16

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