Tell someone i think they are a drunk?

Question

I have this friend who went to high school with me but now we go to different colleges. We still keep in touch and whenever i talk to him he will tell me how he going to be going out and drinking. In every picture on facebook he has a drink in is hand. Whenever i see him it is at a party where drinking is going on. Also he told me that he doesn't feel that he can make new friends without drinking because he is not as fun when sober. How do i tell him that i think he could be in trouble and needs to slow down/completely stop drinking?

Answer 1

college = drinking.  Unless there is a family history of it, pretty normal . By the way you can not tell him to stop drinking, he will when he wants to.  By the way I drank during college years and dont drink today.

Answer 2

I favor the direct approach, which is to say you just need to tell him what you think.  It won't change his mind right away, and he may even react with hostility, but he may change his tune after he's given it a little thought.

Don't nag him about it, though, no one likes a nag.

Answer 3

Relax, he is a guy in college. Is he in a frat? This is normal college behavior. He thinks he's cool. get it. It's social and he will grow out of it. Just make sure he isn't waking up with a beer in his hand everyday and make sure he is actually passing school. When the alcohal interferes with college, that's when the red flags come up and use the direct approach!

Answer 4

You can't - alcoholics hate you for it and will shout abuse at you and even blame you as the reason they drink.

You could post him some leaflets on alcoholism (pick them up free from the chemist) that he will read on his own.

The only person that can stop him is himself - harsh but true.

Don't hold your breath either - they sometimes stop and start back up again - just don't blame yourself - it is a disease.

Your friend is lost - just be there when he hits the bottom.