My best friend is an alcoholic

I sympathise with you. I had similar issues and concerns with my wife. For many years she was functional and you couldn't tell...and then the wheels fell off.

For her, she had to get to the stage where we saw a doctor for a, seemingly unrelated concern, tell her that she had 9 months left to live if she didn't stop. That was her rock bottom. We have children. She didn't want to lose them....leave them.

Your friend needs to find his own rock bottom, sadly.

I wish you luck.

Personally, I don't know the situation and I'm going on the fact that you do. The reasons why this is happening are also important. Perhaps it's something that been happening in a spiral and your friend doesn't know what's happening. I'm the sort of people that does overthink. On itself not dangerous but it surely would have grown into a depression if I didn't know about it yet. Life brings opportunities and when the person isn't acting on them one can deduce that his or her mind is somewhere else. Like it is settled into the world it has created itself. The person in his or her thoughts feels safe there and one needs to mirror the appaling decline first to them. It won't help anyone who truly loves him or her, and that's one sure fact already

If you are sure you can't do anything about it then my only suggestion would be that you should stop trying. My reasoning is that it's doing him no good and is doing harm to you. Sadly it might be better to accept the situation and try to enjoy his company for the time you and he have left rather than stress the both of you with unsuccessful attempts at reform..

But do make sure that he doesn't drag you down with him.

My oldest friend drank himself to death. A brilliant, high functioning guy who basically never stopped drinking. Pancreatic failure killed him at 49

He would stop drinking every year for Lent. I'd tell him he got over the shakes on Holy Thursday

My father drank himself to death.
I hope your friend realizes what he's doing to himself and those who love him.

I know of someone who was on a collision course. His family and friends staged an intervention. Although I realize that the first doesn't always stick, I'm glad.

All you can do is be there for him. Something deep inside him has to change before he can get sober. It's out of your control.

I'm sorry hun. Does he know that you are really hurting for him and afraid to lose him?

Sadly, you can’t force someone into sobriety. They have to really want it, and even then it’s not an easy task

I watched a man die from cirrhosis. It took about a year and a half. Given the choice I’d choose crucifixion of cirrhosis in a heartbeat. Ironically, with cirrhosis one dies of thirst.

Sorry.. 🙁

please dont let this story end sadly

When it comes to someone else's alcoholism, the only thing you can do is save yourself from falling victim to someone else's problem, which is NOT your's to solve. Stop trying to solve it!

Get him to talk to find out why he drinks, get him to acknowledge the pain he's trying to numb and get him to confront it, that is often the first step.