Damn, my buddy is a full blown alcoholic

[HEyHEY]

Because I live in the city and he's in the burbs we rarely see each other. He's always been a big drinker and back in the day I would match him shot for shot. But we're not kids anymore and it isn't fun and games now.
I'm at my parents for a few days cause Mom's in Australia so I'm keeping my Dad company. After dinner I borrowed the car to go see his new place. Figured we'd have a beer or two have a lot of laughs and maybe watch a movie. I got there and he was already hammered, this was at about eight. And he was going at it like it was a wedding or something. It's Monday night.
He knows he has a problem and all of his friend have stepped in to say something and it hasn't done anything. He's not a mean drunk or anything and he's not married or with kids. And it's hard to get a friend to stop the sauce based just on your fear for their welfare.
Summed up, there's really nothing that can be done. :-(

[Forkboy]

1. One of mine is too.

Drinks a 12 pack every single day (often more, rarely less). But, like your friend, he has no wife and kids. He holds his job and pays his rent, and says that if drinking is what makes his nights tolerable than he's going to drink. He's a major music fan (way more than me even, which is seriously saying something), and his nights revolve around drinking and listening, or making, music. And I can't say much because I know that most music does indeed sound better with a buzz, and when you have a CD or band that's really clicking it's sounds awesome with a buzz.

I also can't say much as I'm pretty much the last person to tell him how he should be living his life. Lord knows I've fucked up my own enough. I can understand why anyone who knows me would ignore my sage advice. :)

He's actually pretty funny when he drinks (and when he doesn't), but it's to the point where he can't make it past 3 in the afternoon without starting, and when we go to shows he gets so shitfaced that I actually avoid him in the club sometimes. Basically, he knows he's an alcoholic and just doesn't care. If I said something to him I know exactly what he'd say. "Fuck you, you're not me." And he'd be right.

Your summation is correct.

[panhead1961]

2. been there - we tried everything

Then one day we went to visit him to tell him I accepted a job in Florida and I brought a six pack of Guinness, and he said no thanks he was drinking tea. He said to go look at his van,which had been in an accident. To shorten this, he got his second DUI in 6 months at age 45 and his life was going to hell in a hand-basket and had to attend mandatory AA meetings. He is still clean and sober for 4 years now. Sometimes they have to hit rock bottom but the chances they might run kill themselves or someone else drunk driving is more likely. Sucks to watch it happen. Good luck