| Learning that your life partner or a close friend or | | | | A prime example of this was a man who had two |
| family member is an alcoholic can come as a severe | | | | friends who were traffic police officers. His route to |
| shock. This is particularly true when you have failed to | | | | work each day took him past their police station, so he |
| notice that anything was wrong with them over a long | | | | decided to drop in and join them for a cup of coffee. |
| period. However, you shouldn't blame yourself because | | | | However, he had made one fundamental mistake, |
| the nature of an alcoholic is to be secretive and | | | | following his early morning drink of scotch; he had |
| devious so as not to be caught out. | | | | failed to cover up the smell on his breath. He was |
| In some households, it is normal practice to have a | | | | lucky; one officer took him home and the other drove |
| couple of drinks after work, wine with dinner and | | | | his car. He could have been caught on the motorway, |
| maybe even a nightcap. If yours is one of those, then it | | | | been breathalysed and lost his licence. |
| is even less likely that you will notice if someone is an | | | | Another obvious sign of an alcoholic in the house is |
| alcoholic. The same holds true for couples or families | | | | empty bottles hidden in strange places, for example: |
| who socialise a lot in pubs or restaurants or other | | | | - rarely used suitcases |
| establishments, which serve alcoholic drinks. In these | | | | - the very back of cupboards |
| circumstances, if someone seems a little tipsy | | | | - on top of wardrobes |
| occasionally, the assembled company will probably | | | | - in the loo cistern |
| pass it off as "one too many", but what's going on | | | | - in the shed or garage |
| when "one too many" becomes a daily occurrence? | | | | Many alcoholics will insist on having a drink when there |
| Unfortunately, the signs of alcoholism differ from | | | | isn't really time such as just before leaving the house |
| person to person. Some can consume huge quantities | | | | for a dinner party or last thing before bed, having been |
| of alcohol, without apparent ill effects, until one last | | | | drinking all evening. If you try to stop them, they will |
| drink tips them over the edge. Others will get drunk | | | | become bad-tempered and argumentative. |
| very quickly, on what appears to be a small amount of | | | | When you become convinced that the person in |
| alcohol. However, don't forget they may actually have | | | | question is addicted to alcohol, check with a few close |
| been drinking since early in the morning. | | | | family friends to have your suspicions confirmed. If |
| Some tell-tale signs are: | | | | they too believe that there is a problem, then there |
| - furtive behaviour | | | | almost certainly is. When you confront the alcoholic, |
| - lurking near the drinks tray at odd times of day | | | | they will vehemently deny that anything is wrong, so it's |
| - smell of alcohol on the breath at odd times of day | | | | as well to have a second opinion to bolster your |
| - undue irritability | | | | confidence. |
| - defensive responses to innocent enquiries | | | | Well, you've done the easy bit; you've recognised that |
| Some alcoholics are so sure that they have covered | | | | your friend or lover is an alcoholic; all you have to do |
| their tracks that they will do very strange things indeed. | | | | now is get them to recognise it and seek treatment. |