Arrgh. I think my partner (of nearly 2 years) might have a drink issue...or maybe it is my issue?
Hear me out and then give it to me straight - I've NC for this btw.
We don't live together and it's a long distance relationship. He has always been up front about loving a good drink of beer and enjoying pubs/socialising. All fine, I guess. I'm not a massive drinker, but do enjoy a few when I'm in the mood. I don't drink every weekend either...it's probably once a month at the weekend.
Every year, he does Dry January and announced he was continuing it because it definitely helped with losing weight. He exercises most days as he has a home gym but will never be (in his words) a 'fit bloke' - he has a belly and said he has had it for years because of his love of beer.
Then lockdown restrictions lowered and pubs opened. I've noticed in the past few weeks he has been drinking more or less every night. We don't see each other in the week and message/talk every day and in the past 7 days he hasn't had a day of not drinking. He mentions going out to the pub (he has one next door to where he lives), meeting with his boss for drinks etc. Tonight's excuse is going for a long walk and finding a pub on the way back as a 'reward'. He has mentioned he isn't losing weight anymore and I gently suggested it could be the fact whilst he is doing exercise, having beer every night is just replacing those calories lost in exercise. He just laughed it off and said it was fine, so I left it at that.
I'm starting to feel irritated with it all and every time he mentions drinking or having a 'cheeky beer' it just makes me feel...I dunno...annoyed. He wants us to live together (eventually) and we are both 10 years off retiring. Apart from the beer issue, he's a kind and generous person and we enjoy each other's company. When we have drank/got drunk together, he is fine...never boorish, violent or aggressive. BUT...this drinking every night which has creeped in, is instinctively setting red flags off for me (my ex was a constant drinker and weed smoker).
I thought I had finally met someone compatible and now I'm thinking we might not be. I really don't want to live with someone again who uses drink as a goal/reward all the time. It is making me quite sad now, to be honest. I also feel concerned for his health as his dad died aged 62 with heart issues.
So is it my issue or his...or both. WWYD? Am I being too sensitive due to past experience?