Alcoholic?

JOEBunny

So I am starting to suspect one of my neighbor might have a problem with alcohol.  My mom babysat for my kids one beautiful Sunday afternoon.  While she was here, my neighbor came over with her son to let him play.  My mom ask me the other day, weeks after the fact if I thought she had a drinking problem because of her behavior that day.  She has a tendency to drink and get loud and close talking rather quickly, like after a couple of drinks.  She interrupts people constantly and can be very emphatic when she has been drinking.  She is a kind, generous person when sober and annoying and goofy when drunk. 

We had a party last night and she was the same way, annoying, loud, monopolizing the conversation, and generally goofy.  Something I would expect if someone had been drinking all night, but not just from 7-8pm. 

I don't know that there is anything to do if she is an alcoholic.  Everyone around here drinks a good bit, so she is hardly alone in that, it just seems that she gets drunk really fast and continues to drink, when compared to the other rather heavy drinkers.  It has gotten to the point where we don't invite her to things because of it.  

I see her frequently, probably more than anyone besides her DH.   Would you say something or ask how she is doing?  Would you say something to her DH or ask him if he has noticed a change?  Do nothing?

DandelionMom

It seems like heavy drinkers don't get drunk that quickly -- maybe she just has a very low tolerance?  Unless she's just pounding the drinks.  For a while after the kids were born I'd get goofy off a glass of wine.  It was a bit embarassing. 

ali-1411

I think she's just a sloppy drunk.

There has to be a dependency to be an alcoholic.  Most alcoholics I've known, you would never even guess that they were drunk.  They learn to hide it very well.  Of course, that's not true for everyone.  Just a generalization.

BubblyToes

DandelionMom:

It seems like heavy drinkers don't get drunk that quickly -- maybe she just has a very low tolerance?  Unless she's just pounding the drinks.  For a while after the kids were born I'd get goofy off a glass of wine.  It was a bit embarassing. 

This.

shopgirl_07

Well, she definitely has a problem with alcohol if it is affecting her behavior and negatively affecting her relationships.

That said, it's really not your issue so I wouldn't say anything to her or her husband.

A-baybride

I agree that she just sounds like a sloppy drunk.  But if this behavior is new, I'd still be concerned and would keep my out for dangerous behaviors (driving, being too impaired to care for her kids, etc.).  Also, even if she's not an alcoholic, as a friend I would try to find a delicate way to tell her how she's being perceived.  I know it will be an uncomfortable conversation, but I think most people would appreciate knowing.

Ciarrai

ali-1411:

I think she's just a sloppy drunk.

There has to be a dependency to be an alcoholic.  Most alcoholics I've known, you would never even guess that they were drunk.  They learn to hide it very well.  Of course, that's not true for everyone.  Just a generalization.

This.  That's not to say she doesn't have a problem with alcohol, but having a problem with alcohol isn't the same as being an alcoholic.

aglenn

She could be on some kind of medication that interacts with alcohol.  I don't know, I'd probably stay out of it unless you really think it's a safety issue.