That's one fucking problem with being British: lack, or fear, of being direct.
Why not take a deep breath and say to him "Look, you seem to be pissed all the time, what's going on and have you thought about doing something about it, cos you're in danger of fucking things up for the rest of us?" There's plenty of options his GP can refer him to that are free on the NHS, ranging from complete abstinence - with chemical support to take away the physical withdrawl symptoms - to medication which reduces the amount of 'reward' you get for drinking, making it less fun to have a skinful everyday, thus helping to cut down gradually.

At least talk to him, if he's not your boss or vital to your life, what have you got to lose?

Good luck with it anyway.
( fred zeppelin II: Electric Boogaloo, Fri 10 May 2013, 12:01, 3 replies)

And when he turns out to be sober, deaf, and Irish,
you can be hauled up on a disciplinary, instead.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Fri 10 May 2013, 13:18, closed)

Sober AND Irish?
:/
Is that even POSSIBLE?
( stuj (^(^;;^)^) GO TEAM SPIDERS!(^(^;;^)^), Fri 10 May 2013, 13:21, closed)

Sober and Irish?
Since when has that been a possibility?
(ubergeekian, Fri 10 May 2013, 23:53, closed)

There is a big part of me that wants to try to confront him.
I don't know if I've got the guts, though. Or whether it's really any of my business.

Thanks, though.
(Gravity's Raincoat, Fri 10 May 2013, 17:10, closed)

Why bother writing this then.
it would have been easier to have blurted out the above than write the story and replies. What do you want people to say? Do something or don't... but if you don't, and let's face it if you haven't since 2006 you're unlikely to, stop moaning about it.

The likelyhood is that any breakthrough will be short lived and form some kind of needy reliance in your direction. So don't feel like it's your responisibilty.

What you could do is keep a miniture bottle if wine on you and make him dance for you during tedious meetings, or ride on his back dangling vino on the end of a fishing line in front of his nose. Of course you're as likely to do that as you are try and help the guy or indeed try and find another job yourself. Probably.
( @><|= w0nu!) or cunt to my friends, Tue 14 May 2013, 7:37, closed)

Woah there, don't go bringing GPs into this, we have plenty of work as it is without the thankless task of telling people who drink to much not to drink so much.
He can contact alcohol services directly if he seriously wants to stop drinking which, let's face it, he probably doesn't.
( 2 Can Chunder Word to your mums, I came to prod bums, Fri 10 May 2013, 18:23, closed)

Sorry,
but my GP sorted me right out with referrals and stuff, and I was pleasantly surprised at what the NHS had to offer.
( fred zeppelin II: Electric Boogaloo, Sat 11 May 2013, 0:05, closed)