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Relationships

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

How do I go about things with my boyfriend after he drunkenly crossed a boundary?

85 replies

Florida4835 · 25/02/2026 15:07

H, my boyfriend of a year and a half and I went on vacation the first week of February. We spent the weekend with his brother, his wife, and their baby. After they put their kid to bed, we had a fun night of drinking in the living room, H and his brother, and their family chaos and mess. We drank a lot. H had 9 beers, we did shots, it was a mess. At like 2 am, we finally went to bed, and unexpectedly, H and I started making out. While tipsy sex is fine, I have recently discovered that I hate having drunk sex, as it makes me feel like I’m not in control. H and I were clearly drunk, but I was fine with us making out. He kept saying, “I want to eat you out,” which I responded with, “You’re drunk.” We kept kissing for a couple of minutes, and then we changed positions. As we were changing positions, I noticed his underwear was off. I was livid. H never ever takes his underwear off when we are intimate, unless he is showering or we are about to have sex. He even puts them on right after we have sex, too. If I told him no to sex, why would he take his underwear off? I told him, “We could be making out for three hours, and that still means I don’t want to have sex.” I was upset because that feels like basic consent, which I don't feel like explaining to a 24-year-old grown-ass man. We were both drunk. But then, 5 minutes later, he throws a drunken FIT, he says, “What the f*. I just wanted to make out with you!” And i said “then why did you take your underwear off?” And he said, “Because I assumed you changed your mind.” And that pissed me off because that’s not consent. Thats him (falsely) thinking I’d change my mind. At that moment, I felt like a toy for him, and for the first time in our year-and-a-half relationship, I almost felt scared of him. He eventually slept on the couch, but the rest of the trip was awful. I was engaging and having fun with his family, but when we were alone, i didn’t speak to him. H's brother eventually dropped us off at the airport, and he apologized, saying he'd thrown a fit unfairly, which he did, and the reason he threw the fit was that he felt like he was being accused of something he would never do (rape). But honestly, in the moment, I did think it was possible.
He said he violated my trust and said he would do anything to make it up to me. When we got on the plane, he said thank you for putting up with his family, for being kind, and for drinking with them despite our fight. He knew I had a conference the following day, and he Venmoed me 80 dollars to get from the airport to my house. I appreciated it. He texts me every day to have a good day, he's sent me flowers, he's bought me clothes, but I still can’t help but be mad at him for the way he treated me in that moment. It’s been two weeks, and I’m still so mad at him, and progress is non-linear. He is patient. He gives me gifts, and we have had a few dates, and he has not drunk in front of me since, and has told me he does not plan to. We are also not having sex, or having sleepovers, nor do I plan to do so for a minute until I feel completely comfortable to.
He's never ever made me feel this way, and it's a drunken one-off. But I resent him still for crossing a boundary, and I don't know how or where to go from here.

OP posts:
Brefugee · 25/02/2026 15:42

you two are not compatible. End it now.

but really - you said no, and he didn't try to force you to have sex as far as i can see? and he's apologised? He sounds ok to me.

StampDog · 25/02/2026 15:43

WallaceinAnderland · 25/02/2026 15:27

You're punishing him for something that you thought he might do. This is very strange.

This.

dadtoateen · 25/02/2026 15:44

GreenGremlin · 25/02/2026 15:21

Jeepers. Life's too short for this. I'm gonna eat my Pot Noodle.

What flavour? I love a good pot noodle

HugoThatway · 25/02/2026 15:44

Drunk man takes off his underpants while making out with his girlfriend.
I don't think there's anything you can do other than dump him and sell your story to a tabloid newspaper.

BlimeyOReillyO · 25/02/2026 15:45

HugoThatway · 25/02/2026 15:44

Drunk man takes off his underpants while making out with his girlfriend.
I don't think there's anything you can do other than dump him and sell your story to a tabloid newspaper.

With a sad face photo!

whyyyyyisitmonddayy · 25/02/2026 15:45

He did absolutely nothing wrong but you’re emotionally abusive.

Bakednotfriedwalkers · 25/02/2026 15:48

Had you agreed in advance that he’s not allowed to take his underpants off in bed without your permission? If not, then YABVVVVU

ChristmasFluff · 25/02/2026 15:50

What is the boundary he crossed? So far as I can see, it's the boundary of 'you cannot take off your underwear unless I want sex'.

I highly doubt he has come across such a boundary before, so if that's your boundary, you need to state it and then if he does it again, you end the relationship.

Of course, he may decide he has a boundary that as an adult man he can take off his underwear whenever he likes, in which case he will end the relationship.

Either way, what you are doing now, at 2 weeks after the incident, is ridiculous. It's not something I would tolerate from a partner, but then, neither would I tolerate them drunkenly having a go at me for taking off my smalls.

MyMilchick · 25/02/2026 15:50

Yikes, poor guy

exhaustDAD · 25/02/2026 15:51

I hope the responses in this thread will make you think a bit @Florida4835 . Absolutely nobody understands what line your boyfriend did cross. He didn't rip off your underwear while you said no to that. It is not pleasant to hear, I assume, but berating someone for something you think he might do, is not exactly mature behaviour. If you have trauma on that front, you might want to work on it...

BlimeyOReillyO · 25/02/2026 15:52

Honestly he needs to sort himself out, stop sending you money and gifts and tell you as an adult if he wants to get into bed naked, then he can.

It’s a red flag from you this behaviour!

pigsDOfly · 25/02/2026 15:53

Op has clearly seen far too many film in which a couples in bed seem to have sex with their underwear on: (him in his pants and her in her bra and knickers) and thinks that it's normal.

Who the hell keeps their daytime underwear on in bed?

Poor bloody man. Very difficult for him to do the right thing at the right time, I imagine.

TwistedWonder · 25/02/2026 15:56

BlimeyOReillyO · 25/02/2026 15:45

With a sad face photo!

Holding up said underpants to camera

StMichaelPenkevil · 25/02/2026 15:56

Is this a reverse? If not, you sounds bonkers OP.

Thanksforyourlackofthought · 25/02/2026 15:58

What boundary do you think he's actually crossed?
Did you feel threatened?

BillieWiper · 25/02/2026 15:58

The thing about him thinking you'd changed your mind doesn't make much sense. So I can see why that's a bit annoying.

He offered you oral and you refused it. You kept saying you just want 'making out' (not sure how far this goes in your mind but maybe just kissing and touching but not touching his naked penis?)

So the fact he removed his undies and said that 'you changed your mind' sounds like he was obviously trying it on for more.

He didn't actually do anything to you against your consent did he? And he apologised. Removing his own clothing in itself isn't that awful.

But as long as he knows that you don't want sex or touching/seeing his penis when both of you are drunk hopefully it won't happen again.

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 25/02/2026 15:58

This is a lot of drama considering nothing happened

PersimmonsAreNotTheOnlyFruit · 25/02/2026 16:00

Have you told him all your new boundaries? You used to have drunk sex and now you won't. And that in your mind, pants off = sex.
And then you refused to speak to him for however long?
Hmm.

BerryTwister · 25/02/2026 16:01

Shock horror - man in sexual relationship with woman takes his pants off in bed when drunk!!

Jellybunny56 · 25/02/2026 16:02

ChristmasFluff · 25/02/2026 15:50

What is the boundary he crossed? So far as I can see, it's the boundary of 'you cannot take off your underwear unless I want sex'.

I highly doubt he has come across such a boundary before, so if that's your boundary, you need to state it and then if he does it again, you end the relationship.

Of course, he may decide he has a boundary that as an adult man he can take off his underwear whenever he likes, in which case he will end the relationship.

Either way, what you are doing now, at 2 weeks after the incident, is ridiculous. It's not something I would tolerate from a partner, but then, neither would I tolerate them drunkenly having a go at me for taking off my smalls.

This sums it up for me. Total non issue.

GreenGremlin · 25/02/2026 16:02

dadtoateen · 25/02/2026 15:44

What flavour? I love a good pot noodle

Beef and tomato @dadtoateen! I'm old enough to remember cheese and tomato flavour which has been discontinued and never resurrected, despite me BEGGING Unilever or whoever makes 'em! X

Barnbrack · 25/02/2026 16:06

You can't be naked together without having sex? Sounds like you both overreacted while very drunk. I'd say if anything this is a sign you need to look at your drinking. Both of you, and that you probably have some unresolved trauma you could use some counselling for

Caitcheshire · 25/02/2026 16:06

Hate to say it, your poor boyfriend. He drunkenly took his pants off, while making out with his girlfriend. Doesnt sound like he was coercing you into more, didn’t cross a boundary to what you’ve stated your boundaries are.

quite frankly, the fact he’s apologising and effectively agreeing he’s done something he hasn’t - if he was a woman, plenty of people would say he’s being controlled and to walk. No one gets to that point without being terrified of the other persons reaction, your silent treatment, while still accepting presents (the money for the taxi etc) is just reinforcing what’s effectively emotional abuse.

dairydebris · 25/02/2026 16:07

If by any slim chance this is actually real I hope he works up the courage to leave you soon.

DaisyChain505 · 25/02/2026 16:08

I don’t see where he crossed a boundary.

He bought up the suggestion of wanting to give you oral sex and your reply was “you’re drunk.” That isn’t you saying no thanks.

Also, just because you didn’t want oral sex doesn’t mean vaginal penetration was off the cards too.

Your boyfriend isn’t a mind reader and I can see why he got so defensive.