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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Partner’s drinking...is it too much?

111 replies

HungryHippo1234 · 11/11/2020 07:48

Bit of background, been with my OH for 2.5 years, lived together for almost a year. We’re saving for a house.

We’ve had ongoing arguments because he drinks quite a lot of a week (in my opinion). It seems like he drinks every second day so one week it’ll be 4 days out the week and the next week it will be 3 days, if you’re counting out of seven. He’ll drink a bottle of buckfast and 4 cans of beer each time. He doesn’t eat when he’s been drinking so if there’s dinner planned, I eat alone. I don’t drink during the week and I’ve lost interest in doing it every weekend now. When we first got together we would get drunk in the house or go to the pub each weekend and a good time was had. He also used to drink every single night when he was married as a way to deal with how miserable his life was. This is a habit he got into and although he has cut down now, it irks me that he still drinks quite a lot.

After a huge fight over September weekend when he went out drinking to wet his friends new baby’s head and didn’t text or call to let me know he was staying out for 2 days, he promised he would stay off the alcohol to prove to me that he didn’t need it. He did do this but it seems like in the 2/3 weeks since that month ended he’s reverted right back to drinking every second night. I don’t enjoy being intimate with him when he’s drunk and I’m sober so our sex life has taken a big dip. And it’s also been affected because we always end up arguing about how often he drinks so we can go days not talking which also obviously affects intimacy. He’s a bad snorer anyway but after a drink he’s worse. I have a sleep disorder so I really need my sleep so him disrupting it with his drunken snoring is seriously annoying.

Apart from this one thing, we have a really good relationship. The month he spent off the drink was brilliant, no arguments, our sex life got back to the way it was in the beginning and we seemed to reconnect and I enjoyed spending time with him and just chatting and having dinner together, going to bed together at the same time etc. I felt excited by him again instead of dreading him coming home with a carry out.

He really is a good guy, he’s funny, kind, very hardworking, a good dad to his daughter, he’s more than helpful to my family, he joins in and makes an effort, we get on so well when we’re not arguing about his drinking and I know he loves me more than anything.

I guess my question is, does his drinking seem excessive to anyone else or have I just got a bee in my bonnet about it because of issues with his hard partying in the very early days of our relationship, I’ve equated it with him being disrespectful and prioritising drinking over my feelings in the relationship?

I do feel like I’m being slightly unreasonable, he works hard, is out the door at 6am every day and doesn’t get back till after 5 every night. But I just feel like every second night is a tad excessive.

I wouldn’t mind one night during the week and a night at the weekend and then I could join him. But I feel like because he does it so often, it puts me off enjoying joining in even when I do feel like it.

OP posts:
userxx · 11/11/2020 07:58

It really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, you're the one living with him. His drinking clearly doesn't suit you so I'd be rethinking buying a house together, don't tie yourself to him financially if you're unsure.

Candleabra · 11/11/2020 08:02

If you're asking the question, then it's too much.

nimbuscloud · 11/11/2020 08:03

It is excessive. I would not continue in this relationship.

DeathMetalMum · 11/11/2020 08:11

The drinking in the week wouldn't bother me anywhere near as much as going out for two days without even letting you know when he planned to be back.

peachypetite · 11/11/2020 08:14

Do not buy a house or have kids with this man. He’s not going to change and it’s too big a deal breaker to ignore.

randomchap · 11/11/2020 08:19

A bottle of buckfast is about 11 units, depending on the strength of the beers, a 4 pack could be between 8 and 12 units. At a minimum he's having 19 units when he drinks. Does he drive when he's out the door at 6am? If so he's probably over the limit.

His drinking is harmful, it's affecting his relationship with you and is not going to be good for him physically.

It's not your responsibility to stop him drinking, your responsibility is to yourself and your daughter.

HungryHippo1234 · 11/11/2020 08:24

Sorry, to be clear. The daughter isn’t mine, she’s his from his marriage. We get her EOW.

OP posts:
gobbynorthernbird · 11/11/2020 08:26

Apart from this one thing, we have a really good relationship

Every other day?

He's an alcoholic and not going to change so, unless you only want half a relationship for the rest of your life, you need to think about your options.

LoisWilkersonslastnerve · 11/11/2020 08:27

Yanbu. I would seriously rethink op. You could have years of frustration ahead of you.

OoohTheStatsDontLie · 11/11/2020 08:31

I'd say it's too much when it starts affecting other areas of your life. His drinking is affecting his relationship so yes it's too much.
The disappearing aside, if he is choosing not to eat with you every second night and disrupting your sleep every second night then it is impacting on you and that's not fair.

waterlego · 11/11/2020 08:32

It’s not just that he has a drink or two every other night, but is actually getting drunk several times a week. I think that’s excessive, yes, though this being MN, some will think it’s normal 😬

Your relationship was good when he wasn’t drinking but you’re unhappy with how things are now. Unless he is going to commit to drastically reducing his drinking long term, I can’t see how you can be happy in this relationship 😕

ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings · 11/11/2020 08:32

Was his ex wife drinking every night to cope with how sad she was I wonder, or did she have to carry on taking care of their child every day, cooking, cleaning etc, while he got pissed and had his little pity party? He doesn't sound like a good man to me, he sounds like a self centred twat. Is his drinking too much? It's not the worst I've ever heard, but that doesn't really matter. He's treating you like crap, and his drinking is part of that. You aren't happy and don't think it'll get better either. In a few years he'll be drinking every day again and blaming it on you (probably because you did something awful like ask him to wash up or come home before 2am etc). If you want children and a drama free life then this is not the man for you. Cut him lose and find someone who isn't just thinking about himself.

Bmidreams · 11/11/2020 08:33

Don't do it op! You can negotiate with a drinker. You have to end this. Nothing is likely to change, and is actually more likely to get worse. I bet his ex could tell you a few stories. You have zero ties to this man so you are lucky that you can walk away and start again. His primary relationship is with alcohol, you must remember that.

Bmidreams · 11/11/2020 08:34

*you CAN'T negotiate with a drinker!!!

PurpleDaisies · 11/11/2020 08:35

It sounds like his drinking is ruining the dynamic of your relationship. I wouldn’t continue. You’ve already told him you don’t like it and he’s obviously not going to change so you’re better off saving a lot of heartache and cooking things off now.

I’m confused about the wetting his new baby’s head incident. Was that your baby too?

ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings · 11/11/2020 08:35

Actually I want to change my answer now that I know how many units are in buckfast, yes it's way too much. Does he drink when his daughter is there? How often does he see her? Who cares for her while she's with you?

Babysharksmom · 11/11/2020 08:36

He left drinking for 2 days and didn't say anything to you?
I have zero tolerance for that
Wait tíl you have kids with him if you decide to go down that path. That would be miserable

Twigletfairy · 11/11/2020 08:36

So every other day you have a shit relationship and dread him coming home, but other than that you have a great relationship? Come on, read what you've written. Why do you deserve so little?

CrystalMaisie · 11/11/2020 08:36

‘He loves me more than anything’. No, he loves alcohol more than anything.

PurpleDaisies · 11/11/2020 08:36

I have missed the vital word “friend’s new baby’s head”.

Ignore my question.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 11/11/2020 08:38

It doesn't matter if I think it's too much, what matters is it's too much for you. Though it strikes me that someone drinking 50% of the time is only really offering you 50% of a relationship - do you want to settle for half a relationship?

I think his ex might tell a slightly different story by the way, one where his 'drinking to escape his misery' created a whole lot of misery for him...

Also, you say he's drinking Buckie and beer which makes me think you're in Scotland - he's almost definitely over the limit the next morning if he's driving.

EveryoneRevealsThemselves · 11/11/2020 08:42

‘He loves me more than anything’. No, he loves alcohol more than anything.

THIS. And he shows no desire whatsoever to even cut back despite knowing it bothers you.
I beg you not to waste any more of your life with this person. It does not get better. Alcohol is his priority.
As others have pointed out, is he driving then next day after his buckfast and beer nights? Genuinely concerned he’s probably still over the limit.

Thefirsttime · 11/11/2020 08:43

He’s an alcoholic.

He also used to drink every single night when he was married as a way to deal with how miserable his life was..
Nope. He used to drink every single night when he was married because he’s an alcoholic. It’s likely his marriage was bad because of (or at least on part because of) his drinking. He’s doing what alcoholics commonly do and use everything as a”reason” to drink: bad marriage= drink, being miserable= drink more, friend has a baby= go on a 2 day bender. Soon it’ll be my partner is giving me a hard time (about my drinking)= drink more.

Newkitchen123 · 11/11/2020 08:45

The amount he drinks makes you unhappy
This makes the relationship unworkable
He's not going to stop
I also agree with what others say about the ex wife. I suspect the real story is their marriage ended because of his drinking
He's telling you he drank because she made him unhappy
Yet he drinks with you 50 %of the time
What does that tell you?

Beelzebop · 11/11/2020 08:46

Your gut is telling you this is wrong, that's why you need to ask the question. Listen to your gut. I am with someone similar, but stayed. Don't xx.

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