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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

In laws policing drinking on holiday

179 replies

Cherry346 · 11/08/2026 15:44

I, along with DH and our two kids, stayed with relatives in law at their home in the South of France for our summer holiday (1 week) as we do every year unless they come to us in the UK. I noticed quite early on in the trip that uncle in law was not really offering me alcoholic drinks at the dinner table despite drinking wine himself and offering it to DH (it’s something I and UIL have previously enjoyed together – we’re both into wine and they live opposite a lovely vineyard where we’ve regularly done tastings). I have a long-term debilitating illness so don’t drink much (certainly no spirits etc) but do enjoy a glass or two when I’m away and find it really helps me relax, particularly after sorting the kids’ bedtime which I did most nights to let DH catch up with his family. Later in the week, auntie in law kept making comments about anti-inflammatory diets/querying what I eat so I suspect they were purposefully limiting my alcohol having read that it can sometimes negatively impact people with my illness (albeit in the six years I’ve been unwell I personally have not experienced any negative effects and similarly felt no better by giving it up for a period). At one point I briefly excused myself from the dinner table with indigestion and heard AIL mutter “maybe she’s gone in to get some wine” (like I was some form of closet alcoholic!!). AIBU to think that, at 44 years old, they are not entitled to police/judge what I drink in this way, despite what they may have read about my illness? To be clear, we bought a box of vineyard wine and paid for meals out to thank them for their hospitality, so there’s no suggestion they thought we were freeloading. I know this isn’t a huge issue in the grand scheme of things but it really got under my skin (pun intended!) and I spent the week feeling very uncomfortable/quite shamed/judged, especially when everyone else was imbibing! DH perhaps should have asked them whether there was an issue but I didn’t want an already strange/uncomfortable situation to become even more awkward! TIA

OP posts:
LindorDoubleChoc · 12/08/2026 20:13

OMFG just ask for a glass of wine!!

ThreadGuardDog · 12/08/2026 21:21

SusanJJ · 11/08/2026 16:34

Given that you get on and have enjoyed sharing drinks in the past, I think most likely your in laws were worried about your health and didn't want to encourage you to drink, knowing that normally you have very little alcohol. Nothing to feel shamed about, though irritating that they didn't let you decide.

Well that makes them ableist twats then doesn’t it ? It’s not on them to worry about OP’s health. She’s a grown ass woman and they’re treating her like an alcoholic. Time to stop the family holidays in my opinion.

JazzyAmbs · 12/08/2026 22:13

I have a friend who likes to police mine and the rest of my friendship groups drinking. She will sit there and film us and tell us we are pissed. The last time she did it she launched into telling us we were pissed and had started hiding our belongings to “look after them for us.”I had had two glasses of Prosecco at this point and was not even merry. I think some people just police others fun for whatever reason. Sounds like he has a chauvinistic and superior complex.

KellyAnne47 · 12/08/2026 23:30

Oh shut up.

Blondeshavemorefun · 12/08/2026 23:33

This reply has been deleted

Posted on the wrong thread. MNHQ.

ErinBell01 · 13/08/2026 01:23

Just stick your glass out when the bottle appears to get a top up!

Flyingdolphins · 13/08/2026 04:19

YABU for not just topping yourself up or saying 'yes please' when they started topping up.

So many childish non-issues appearing on AIBU recently. Like you said, you're a 44 year old woman. Speak up!!!

Redmistdecended · 13/08/2026 08:28

This reply has been withdrawn

Message withdrawn - posted on wrong thread

parallolo · 13/08/2026 08:41

@Redmistdecended You should start your own thread about this maybe in property section? I think you posted in the wrong place. 😕

Redmistdecended · 13/08/2026 08:47

@parallolo I’vetried to delete, and reported never posted before I’m such a idiot!

StormGazing · 13/08/2026 09:20

I’d be letting my DH know I expected him to sort this out! Holidays = letting your hair down, if that’s including alcohol in your idea of holidays then they’ve no right to spoil your holiday!
sorry you have an illness, even more reason to enjoy life!! I do as I have an AI lifelong disease … not life limiting but some wine helps me feel
more relaxed

BiteSizeByzantine · 13/08/2026 10:04

SunwaysSystems · 11/08/2026 15:47

Can I ask why you call it 'policing'? It's making comments, not putting you in custody!

Have they actually mentioned alcohol directly to you? They drink themselves and you've had a glass or two at a time...?

classic mumsnet , pretending not to understand perfectly comon terms.

BiteSizeByzantine · 13/08/2026 10:05

JazzyAmbs · 12/08/2026 22:13

I have a friend who likes to police mine and the rest of my friendship groups drinking. She will sit there and film us and tell us we are pissed. The last time she did it she launched into telling us we were pissed and had started hiding our belongings to “look after them for us.”I had had two glasses of Prosecco at this point and was not even merry. I think some people just police others fun for whatever reason. Sounds like he has a chauvinistic and superior complex.

That's controlling behaviour. If it was a boyfriend doing that...

Washingupdone · 13/08/2026 11:34

You say that they come to yours, when they do, DH as man of the house can pour yours and ask if you would like a top up. If they are French and your U in law is strict on etiquette, the female guest , eldest first followed by other women, then the male guest. À votre santé !

godmum56 · 13/08/2026 12:27

JazzyAmbs · 12/08/2026 22:13

I have a friend who likes to police mine and the rest of my friendship groups drinking. She will sit there and film us and tell us we are pissed. The last time she did it she launched into telling us we were pissed and had started hiding our belongings to “look after them for us.”I had had two glasses of Prosecco at this point and was not even merry. I think some people just police others fun for whatever reason. Sounds like he has a chauvinistic and superior complex.

why is she still your friend? She sounds batshit. And anyone who films me without permission in those circumstances would find her phone being removed and the content deleted.

Whataretalkingabout · 13/08/2026 15:59

Typical patriarchal reaction of some old fashioned French families. They think women should be demur and drink less. Hubby goes along with it for an easy life. The older generation probably think you drink too much for your health (problems) and/ or are punishing you for being untraditional.

Whataretalkingabout · 13/08/2026 16:18

sorry - 'demure' in English. too late to edit

Isittimeformynapyet · 13/08/2026 16:23

KellyAnne47 · 12/08/2026 23:30

Oh shut up.

Who?

KateBushAgain · 13/08/2026 16:36

i bet your husband knows exactly what’s going on , he’s been talking about you .

SteveHill · 13/08/2026 20:01

Can you not just have an adult conversation with them: "I'm a grown up, I've been living with this condition for years, I know my body better than your Google 'research' does and I know that wine can relax me and help me sleep. It's my call, not yours. Now, are we agreed on this?"

YourCoralCritic · 14/08/2026 14:55

I would've had to make some sort of joke about that, along the lines of 'didn't realise there was a drought in the vinyard' or similar.
Imo that was incredibly rude, & as PP said, I would be changing plans for next year!
No wonder you felt awkward 💐

MandemChickenShop · 14/08/2026 17:32

Book an Airbnb next year, or work on your assertiveness!

godmum56 · 14/08/2026 19:52

MandemChickenShop · 14/08/2026 17:32

Book an Airbnb next year, or work on your assertiveness!

or both

QueenFnaaaaaaar · 15/08/2026 18:41

SunwaysSystems · 11/08/2026 15:47

Can I ask why you call it 'policing'? It's making comments, not putting you in custody!

Have they actually mentioned alcohol directly to you? They drink themselves and you've had a glass or two at a time...?

It is policing in my opinion.

godmum56 · 15/08/2026 18:47

QueenFnaaaaaaar · 15/08/2026 18:41

It is policing in my opinion.

mine too

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