MORAL DILEMMA

[hermykne]

have come to notice my neighbour has alcohol delivered to her every day. 2 and 3 times by her sister who drives a small car, this woman has a family and it seems quite tragic, but my problem is the two of them were parked outside my house drinking the "larger" cans at 10 am in the morning, the sister returns later on with more alchol for her and drives by "swigging2 a gulp while driving.
i think my neighbour may have oped that i have coped wahts going on
but should i report the sister driving under the influence and could it have reverberations for me?

that should read recriminations!!!!!!!

i type too fast just noticed alll the errors!

Difficult one! there shouldn't be any repercussions for you as any information you give would (should!) be anonymous. I would be very very tempted to report the sister for drink driving - she's putting other people at risk.

Yes, wasn't there a shop a drink driver hotline? If you just report the car's number plate, they shouldn't guess it was you.

I'd report it. I've had to think long and hard about this myself for several reasons. Never regretted shopping a drink driver, but bitterly regret the time I didn't. Even if you report anonymously she may guess - think through what you will say if she confronts you, remember that you're not doing anything wrong.

You can also report anonymously to Social Services or the NSPCC if you think your neighbour may be drinking during the day while looking after young children. I know it sounds harsh, it's not meant to be, she may even thank you one day.

Tough position to be in, my sympathy.

You must report it. People's lives are at risk.

Depending on how well you get on with her, could you not talk to her about it? Say that you have noticed her sister and her drinking during the day, etc, and how worried you are.
You say that she and her sister were drinking during the day for all to see? Well then, if they were reported, it could have been anyone reporting them! What's to say one of your other neighbours saw them too and has already reported them? Would you fear recriminations then? It would be out of your hands wouldn't it?
But if you are to report a drink driver, it is best to do it whilst you know they are committing the offence there and then. Otherwise it is their word against yours and you may end up in court against your neighbour.
If I were you, I would have a quiet word, try to prevent her sister from driving whilst drinking rather than waiting for it to happen. Also, please do offer support as well as criticism. You do not know this woman's background and she might need a friend, someone who will not just judge her, report her, and then leave her to pick up the pieces alone. Alcohol is a way of coping with life, so it indicates that she is finding life tough at the mo. Try to be a friend above all.

Message withdrawn

hermykne
Think very carefully before you approach your neighbour. IF she has a drink problem and you speak to her about it - it could swing either way. My experience is that "alcoholics" get very touchy about their behaviour and I would hazard a guess that she will think that you are being patronising and accusatory. It's a hard one to handle.
As Rhubarb says she might be looking for a friend - but unless she has admitted to herself that she has a problem, it's unlikely that you will be welcomed with open arms.
HTH

I would report it ... I wrote a post a few months ago about seeing a family in a car with a baby sitting on the lap of the person in the front passenger seat ... I really regretted not getting the license plate number as by now that baby could be dead after an accident.
This is harsh, but just think how you would feel if it was reported in the local press next week that a child was killed by a hit and run driver and then that hit and run driver turned out to be the sister of your next door neighbour?
Like I say, I would report it ... local police, crimestoppers, whatever - depending on how important it is to you that it is anonymous ...

Only one problem with reporting it- you might not get very far. I was hit (car) by someone who was hit by someone who had been drinking. We both drove to the police station immediately afterwards and reported it to the police who said there was nothing they could do unless they were actually at the scene- the people could say they'd just got home and drank a double or something.

It sucks though.....

thanks all, i had a chat with mylocal police station, picking up a passport form. and i casually said i knew of someone drink drivng and i was unsure what to do and how to it, so he said do it anonymously and they would be discreet as to how to approach the driver, she actually has a for sale sign on her passenger door window and it obstructs her view which is illegal,
i do think lives are a risk,
my neighbour has two adolescent children who must really find it difficult and her husband seems quite gentle and sporty. so i dont know, her sister delievers the alcohol while he now takes the car to work, before he left it with his wife, and she has a real gammy leg so i dont know how she operates the accelerator!
thanks for all the advice
will let you know my decision.

I wouldn't compare this with sitting in the passenger seat with a baby on your lap. Shall I come out now and confess that I have done this - more than once! Taxi's do not have baby seats, so I usually buckle myself in and cross my arms over her. Also, if I'm visiting family I have to get the train to see them, and someone will pick me up from the station. Again, they don't have a car seat so she sits on my knee.
I'm sure if we had an accident I would regret it bitterly, but there are circumstances when there simply is no car seat available and so you have no other option.

I would avoid approaching your neighbour as it could get nasty. I'd report her as at least your conscience will be clear should she cause an accident and injure an innocent party.