Do encourage the getting on with life by others affected by the drinking.

I'm remembering a family who put everything else aside to help one of the children, and lost everything, both financially and personally - and their sacrifice came to nothing as their daughter died an alcoholic. The other children are still estranged from their parents.

I can't remember where I heard the advice, but it rings true, that a drinker needs to hit rock bottom before they will admit to needing to change, and helping them stay afloat is delaying that first step in their recovery.

Anne the Pleater