To consider calling police on inlaws next time this happens

[AlchyInlaws]

So MIL and her partner obviously have a drinking problem. They start on the wine at noon every day and often have to sleep it off in the afternoon before continuing in the evening. This isn't normally an issue as we only visit them about 3 times a year and although they're continual slurring / repeating stories are annoying it doesn't directly affect me

What concerns me a lot more is when they come to visit. They came for one night recently and polished off 3 bottles of wine between them in the evening (hubby had 2 glasses). They brought the wine with them as they know I only buy 1 bottle for when they come. They arrived about 5pm and started drinking at 7, whilst I was putting kids to bed

The next morning they said they were going out to buy a paper and came back with a bottle of wine too. They started drinking this at noon like normal, then left after lunch (about 2pm) to make the 4 hour drive home. I didn't pay attention to how much each of them were drinking but they were both having some. Apparently it was ok because they made a thermos for the journey!!

Am I right in thinking that whoever was driving would definitely be over the limit during this drive? If I called the police and they got pulled over they would probably guess that I called. However, if they had an accident on the way home and someone got hurt or killed then I would feel guilty forever!

To be honest, I didn't think of it until they left last time so didn't have their registration number. However, I'm torn as to what to do next time! Do I really risk tearing my husbands family apart?

My hubby is of the view that they must have built up such a tolerance level that 1/2 bottle of wine wouldn't impair their driving. Could this really be true?

DT X

caroldecker neither myself or my husband would be legal to drive after 4 units.

What would you or your partner's reaction be if his parents after having knocked back a bottle of wine at dinner said ''we'll drop the kids off at football/swimming/their friend's house as it is on our away'. I'm 99.999% your reaction and that of your partner would be 'over our dead body you will'. But somehow your partner seems rather more blase about them killing or injuring someone else's child.

Pay no heed to this 'tolerance ' bollocks and call the police.

The way I understand it is that alcohol units are metabolised at a rate of about a unit per hour after the first hour. This depends on things like the size of the person.

Could you kick your inlaws out at 12. So they've had as long as possible to get over previous night's drinking but haven't had a chance to start again.

Do they have any health problems, take any medication - some stuff you can report to the dvla, who may decide to revoke their license?

This link to a Transport and Road Research Laboratory report in 1986 says that 2 units of alcohol on an average man on an empty stomach will raise the blood alcohol to 30mg/100ml, less than half the legal limit.
Anyone who says you should count from when you stop drinking has no understanding of how the body works.
Again, I am not saying this is safe. The link shows the increased risk of being under the limit, but the legal position is around 4 units.

decaff they sound like functioning alcoholics (they are dependent on drink and can't stop after 1 bottle) no amount of kicking them out earlier will help because they could go out for a pub lunch and still drink and think they are safe to drive.

What they need is a short sharp shock with regards To their drinking. Driving ban is better than killing someone. Decent alcohol rehab and therapy. Not necessarily at a unit. And their son to tell them they need help.

It's not guaranteed though. My step dad was a functioning alcoholic. Was pissed behind the wheel of a car. Thankfully he was so pissed he only crashed into the parked car in front, passed out behind the wheel and wet himself. He was arrested and sentenced to 3mths in prison Later reduced to 6weeks for good behaviour out on parole with order to attend weekly AA meetings with failure to attend meant immediate return to Prison and a 3 year driving ban. (This was in the 90s btw of anyone is wondering)

He still drinks to this day but has never driven since.