Ask Dali Mama

DEAR DALI MAMA:

I am dating an amazing man but he drinks too much. He says he’ll stop and he’ll stop for a while but then go right back to drinking. How do I stop his drinking? I love him but I cannot live with this.

–Desperate (Norway)

DEAR DESPERATE:

Unfortunately, you cannot stop his drinking. Only he can stop his drinking. And before he can stop, he has to want to stop. Check out Alcoholic Aonymous’s website (http://www.aa.org), which provides a lot of valuable information for alcoholics as well as the people that love them.

You do not specify exactly what you cannot live with. If alcohol makes him abusive, find a safe place and do not put yourself in any dangerous situations.

If he is not willing to take steps to get support to quit drinking, perhaps it is time to walk away.