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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DS drunk as a skunk

153 replies

KissMeUnderTheMistleThrush · 18/12/2022 00:44

I can't help but be angry with him even tho it's a Xmas do! He's 23 and been to town for Xmas food and drinks. He came home at 23.30, but has been out since 17.00!
He managed to get upstairs and laid on his bed face down.
He was then violently sick, he didn't even wake up or move.
I just keep thinking what would happen if he was laid on his back and was sick? There was so much vomit I think he would have choked🥺
I managed to roll him over (6ft 4!) Ro take the sheet off And he fell on the floor where he is now snoring heavily covered in a quilt.
Is he safe to leave like this? It flippin scared me, god knows what he's been drinking. Why do they do it??

OP posts:
Postapocalypticcowgirl · 18/12/2022 09:21

A friend's brother died this way at a similar age - it's very different to throwing up whilst conscious and it is extremely dangerous. He lived alone and so had no one to look out for him in the night when it happened.

You did the right thing by making sure he was on his side, and I hope he is alright this morning.

There definitely needs to be a conversation about knowing his limits and not getting into this state again. It is really dangerous - what if he'd passed out before getting home?

Newmum738 · 18/12/2022 09:23

Unfortunately, I have been that 23 y/o. Keep an eye on him and be mad in the morning if you want. It might help him to learn for next time.

Pothoswithasparkle · 18/12/2022 09:24

Daffodilis · 18/12/2022 09:10

I bet he has been mixing his drinks to get in that state. He's likely to wake with a banging headache and feel like he's in hell. Don't pamper him and make him clean up. Hopefully this will be a good lesson.

Yeah. An not eating properly.

gliiterryballs · 18/12/2022 09:36

I hope he is on OP.

So many people minimising the seriousness of vomiting whilst not being conscious. I once refused to let DD go to bed as she was so drunk and vomiting. I made her get into the recovery position on the sofa while I dozed on and off on the other sofa for the whole night. It only happened once and she barely drinks at all now but I was so worried she would choke

HikingforScenery · 18/12/2022 09:37

Good thing you were there to keep him safe. Hopefully, he’ll not be keel to repeat bring this drunk anytime soon.

HikingforScenery · 18/12/2022 09:39

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 18/12/2022 09:21

A friend's brother died this way at a similar age - it's very different to throwing up whilst conscious and it is extremely dangerous. He lived alone and so had no one to look out for him in the night when it happened.

You did the right thing by making sure he was on his side, and I hope he is alright this morning.

There definitely needs to be a conversation about knowing his limits and not getting into this state again. It is really dangerous - what if he'd passed out before getting home?

Oh no! That’s terrible. I’ve never actually heard of anyone dying as a result of being drunk. That’s really sad.
We’re non-drinkers and so is the bulk of our social circle so I forget about the dangers of alcohol

Pothoswithasparkle · 18/12/2022 09:41

I’ve never actually heard of anyone dying as a result of being drunk. That’s really sad.

😳 I did not think that was possible!

Thomasina79 · 18/12/2022 09:59

I know someone who got this drunk aged 17. She is now in her 60s and has never had a drink since!

your son will be fine in the morning!

PearlclutchersInc · 18/12/2022 10:00

Just leave him in his own mess. He'll feel bad enough when he comes to.

The silent treatment will do the trick for the future.

Olivetreebutter · 18/12/2022 10:00

CatServant2020 · 18/12/2022 07:55

I know it's not the point of the thread but has anyone ever seen a drunk skunk ?

Are they known as the heaviest drinkers in the animal kingdom or are other animals known for their heavy drinking, it makes me wonder about wonkey donkeys. Also I heard of animals getting drunk on fermented apples and the like 😀

Seriously OP hopefully a bad hangover will have taught your son a lesson and your entitled to have a conversation with him about the dangers of getting that drunk. Leave him to clear up up the mess he created.

Apparently there's a suggestion that the original comparison was drunk as a mouse (seen in Chaucer) because there was a fable about a mouse rescued from a wine vat by a cat. Any other animal then got substituted and skunk stuck because it's a nice rhyme.

I do like the idea of tiddly skunks wreaking havoc in America though.

gliiterryballs · 18/12/2022 10:01

PearlclutchersInc · 18/12/2022 10:00

Just leave him in his own mess. He'll feel bad enough when he comes to.

The silent treatment will do the trick for the future.

Silent treatment?

Grow up.

LumpyandBumps · 18/12/2022 10:05

I hope you managed to get some sleep OP.
He will probably have an awful hangover, and may well decide that getting that drunk again is not for him.
I would try to see him getting home, and before midnight, as a positive. At least he was somewhere safe with you looking after him, and not collapsed in an alley somewhere. You will be able to explain to him how dangerous this could have been.

AdoraBell · 18/12/2022 10:11

It is scary/worrying when our grown up DC get into this kind of state. Once he gets over it either get him to wash his bedding, or if you’ve washed it he can put it back on his bed.

He needs to realise that when he gets drunk it results in things he has to deal with.

PearlclutchersInc · 18/12/2022 10:13

gliiterryballs · 18/12/2022 10:01

Silent treatment?

Grow up.

So what would you do..play the concerned mummy. Or shout and bawl. Are you a MNer who thinks it's ok to get so pissed that they fall unconscious in their own vomit.

OPs son should grow up himself and not come in such a state that he worries his mother silly.

SantaBakula · 18/12/2022 10:17

Olivetreebutter · 18/12/2022 10:00

Apparently there's a suggestion that the original comparison was drunk as a mouse (seen in Chaucer) because there was a fable about a mouse rescued from a wine vat by a cat. Any other animal then got substituted and skunk stuck because it's a nice rhyme.

I do like the idea of tiddly skunks wreaking havoc in America though.

News Headlines
6 male skunks arrested for indecent exposure, causing affray and a nasty wiff while trying to see who could spray the highest up the pub wall. :-)

In all seriousness op I hope your ds is extremely sorry about the worry and the mess is caused you he will have a thumping hangover for the rest of the day but I would still make him clean up everything let him know how frightened you were and how dangerous it could have been.
But be grateful he got home safely and you're not up all night worrying as to where he was as we seen so many people post on here scared to death that something serious and happened to their loved ones

Pothoswithasparkle · 18/12/2022 10:17

PearlclutchersInc · 18/12/2022 10:13

So what would you do..play the concerned mummy. Or shout and bawl. Are you a MNer who thinks it's ok to get so pissed that they fall unconscious in their own vomit.

OPs son should grow up himself and not come in such a state that he worries his mother silly.

Silent treatment is abusive even when it is towards other family members not just partners. Also shows great inability to communicate normally

Dotjones · 18/12/2022 10:18

PearlclutchersInc · 18/12/2022 10:13

So what would you do..play the concerned mummy. Or shout and bawl. Are you a MNer who thinks it's ok to get so pissed that they fall unconscious in their own vomit.

OPs son should grow up himself and not come in such a state that he worries his mother silly.

None of the above. Treat him like an adult, have a polite conversation when the time is right saying you were worried about him choking, and move on.

When someone wakes up after an evening like the OP's DS had they know they've fucked up. Playing stupid mind games is unnecessary and does not help.

isitdoinasnow · 18/12/2022 10:21

I came in from my work Christmas do and puked last night and I'm double his age.
I would be worried though too. It's good that you were there to keep an eye on him.

KissMeUnderTheMistleThrush · 18/12/2022 10:22

I opened his curtains before I went to work. He was complaining of being cold, I said tough! I opened his window as the room stank. Apparently the sheets are now in the wash and he's going to buy a new duvet.
I've sent him the link someone posted about alcohol poisoning and said how dangerous it was and how he was face down in vomit.
He doesn't remember getting home, and I was wrong, I thought he went out at 5 but he went out at mid day, so 11 hours of drinking.
Apparently he's doing dry January 🙄

OP posts:
gliiterryballs · 18/12/2022 10:24

@PearlclutchersInc

So what would you do..play the concerned mummy. Or shout and bawl. Are you a MNer who thinks it's ok to get so pissed that they fall unconscious in their own vomit.

Neither. I ensured DD was safe overnight and we talked about what happened and what could have happened when she was feeling better.

I absolutely do not think getting that pissed is ok. DD hasn't done it since and it was 5 years ago.

Silent 'treatment' as you call it, is abuse. I think teaching your child by way of example that being silent is a punishment is fucking stupidity.

Ohhmydays · 18/12/2022 10:25

LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet · 18/12/2022 01:16

He went out at 5pm and came back at 11.30pm? And you think that’s bad? At age 23 I’d often clock up a good 16 hours of boozing! Lightweight 😆

OK - so step away. He’s 23, not 3, you don’t need to be cleaning up after his vomit.

At 23 I was leaving the house at 5 on a Friday to go to friends house or they would come to mine and that was usually us till early Sunday morning. Doing the rounds to everyone’s house on the Saturday so we could get washed n changed then back out again lol oh to be that age again 😂

5128gap · 18/12/2022 10:30

Mine did this at a similar age. I sat up with him all night. The following day he was so horrified and embarrassed i didn't need to say anything. Apologies were made, new bedding purchased, and he hasn't repeated it.
Most of us make mistakes with drink, but if by the age of 23, a man isn't going to own it, make ammends and learn from it off his own bat, there is little point trying to arrive at a strategy to 'parent' him around it, as that ship will have sailed.

Octo5 · 18/12/2022 10:33

It is very dangerous to get this drunk, especially if they’re vomiting.

But what’s done is done and we’ve all been stupid like this before.

It’s scenarios like this that make you grow up and regulate your alcohol intake and get to know your limits.

SantaBakula · 18/12/2022 10:37

The silent treatment solves nothing at all.
The person been silent doesn't get to express their feelings / concerns
The person been silenced at rarely notices at first then when they do they don't get told what the issue is and how to not do it again (though in this case its fairly obvious)

Once ops ds is awake and has cleaned himself and anywhere he made a mess s/he should calmly explain how worried s/he was , ask him how he got home , has he still got his wallet / phone / any jewelry he wears. Does he think his drink may of been spiked , did his pals get home OK.
And if feeling generous does he want a bacon buttie

WimbyAce · 18/12/2022 10:38

Literally dreading this when my kids are old enough as I have a bit of a vomit phobia. Will have to leave their dad to sort it. Hoping they will be like me where once put me off for life!