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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Drinking to excess

7 replies

Alphasolo · 28/12/2021 11:17

My 42 year old husband has no self control when it comes to drinking. He isn't a regular drinker during the working week at all. He rarely drinks Mon-Fri but he will drink all through the summer and Christmas holidays in the evenings. I won't share a bed with him when he's been drinking because he snores loudly so he happily sleeps in the spare room so that he can drink. If I try speaking to him about choosing drinking over intimacy, he snaps at me. He generally just drinks craft beer, which he treats as some sort of hobby and will have 3 or 4 a night so hardly excessive.

However, he will go completely stupid if we're out together or with friends and always drinks to excess. I have to make sure I don't have too many because one of us needs to be on hand for the children during the night as the 3 year old wakes up a lot. If I tell him "you still need to be able to parent" he jumps down my throat.

On boxing night, he was drinking with my brothers and brought out a 70% russian spirit. All of us had a sip and said no way. He proceeded to guzzle two shots of this one after the other. I said no more and to drink some water. My brothers were staying over meaning I needed to bed share with him. He told me "don't patronise me" and drank another one.

He is not a nice drunk as he becomes confrontational. My brothers think it's funny as he's so accommodating the rest of the time. I don't find it funny. I went to bed and then had the most awful night's sleep I've had since the newborn days and ended up trying to sleep on the floor. The 3 year old fell out of bed during the night and I ended up in her room for a while too. He was in a total coma.

The next day, my brothers left early which I was annoyed about as the house was a mess after our get together and there was still food out to be cleared away. DH left it all to me as he stayed in bed until 5pm rje following day, throwing up.

My day was totally ruined as I spent it looking after 2 young kids on very little sleep, trying to clear up. Needless to say, I've had a lie-in this morning and he has got the children ready etc without me needing to ask. He has said sorry but it doesn't change that whenever we're out or with other people he has no self control when it comes to booze. I don't find it remotely attractive and although I've had strong words with him this morning, something within me is saying, enough is enough.

OP posts:
Magnited · 28/12/2021 11:26

He needs to know that drinking is not good when it changes ones character.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 28/12/2021 11:31

What do you get out of this relationship now?.

Make 2022 a better year for you without your drunkard husband in it in your day to day lives. I am appalled your brothers find it funny, this is no laughing matter and besides which they do not live with the consequences of his binge drinking. Such situations as well often go one way; downhill. Its not going to get any better.

Alcoholism is not called the "family disease" for nothing and you are profoundly affected by his drinking. You are also playing the usual roles associated with such spouses; those of enabler, codependent partner and provoker (because you never forget). Your own recovery from his alcohol abuse will only properly start once you and your kids are away from him completely. His saying sorry and your strong words with him are NOT enough, its action you need to take here and decisive ones at that. And why did you clear up his mess/sick?. You should have left it all there for him to clear up, it was never your job and you by clearing up after him shielding/enabled him from the consequences of his actions. Enabling neither helps him or you because it gives you a false sense of control.

You have children also to consider; this is no environment to raise them in and they will be affected by their dad's drinking so long as you all remain under the same roof.

Contacting a Solicitor here would be a good idea as it will show you where you stand legally. I would also suggest you contact Al-anon as they are very helpful to people affected by another person's drinking.

Alphasolo · 28/12/2021 11:38

I didn't clear up HIS mess or sick. I would never do that.

I cleared away all of the food from the buffet and the wrapping paper which jad been left strewn all over the place.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 28/12/2021 11:42

What you cleared up after them is the very least of your problems here.

DileenODoubts · 28/12/2021 13:01

Sorry OP, sounds like an awful night, i know that horrible feeling of being on edge every time they start drinking around other people, wondering how bad tonight will be, even when it’s not that bad every night out or social occasion is ruined because of the stressful anticipation.
Can you go somewhere for a while? Let him see that his drinking that way has consequences?

AgentJohnson · 29/12/2021 05:28

The balls in your court not his because he doesn’t want to change. So OP, is this a dealbreaker yet? If it is, then you need to have a plan.

Stop waiting around for his epiphany and start making plans for freeing yourself from a binge drinker.

Danceswithwhippets · 29/12/2021 06:25

@AttilaTheMeerkat

What do you get out of this relationship now?.

Make 2022 a better year for you without your drunkard husband in it in your day to day lives. I am appalled your brothers find it funny, this is no laughing matter and besides which they do not live with the consequences of his binge drinking. Such situations as well often go one way; downhill. Its not going to get any better.

Alcoholism is not called the "family disease" for nothing and you are profoundly affected by his drinking. You are also playing the usual roles associated with such spouses; those of enabler, codependent partner and provoker (because you never forget). Your own recovery from his alcohol abuse will only properly start once you and your kids are away from him completely. His saying sorry and your strong words with him are NOT enough, its action you need to take here and decisive ones at that. And why did you clear up his mess/sick?. You should have left it all there for him to clear up, it was never your job and you by clearing up after him shielding/enabled him from the consequences of his actions. Enabling neither helps him or you because it gives you a false sense of control.

You have children also to consider; this is no environment to raise them in and they will be affected by their dad's drinking so long as you all remain under the same roof.

Contacting a Solicitor here would be a good idea as it will show you where you stand legally. I would also suggest you contact Al-anon as they are very helpful to people affected by another person's drinking.

This is absolutely right. His behaviour is destructive. He may be an alcoholic. Read him the riot act.
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