AIW for not letting my husband go on a boys trip after us coming back from vacation?

A dream vacation in Italy, meant to mend a fractured trust, unraveled into a deeper wound for a woman grappling with her husband’s hidden alcoholism. Discovering a secret vodka bottle before their trip funded entirely by her she confronted his broken promises and slurred lies, yet allowed him to join her, hoping heartfelt talks would spark change.

Back home, the sting of betrayal lingers as her husband, jobless and fresh off their getaway, announces a Vegas boys trip, reigniting her resentment. Her firm refusal sparks a tense standoff, with his drinking unchecked and her patience worn thin. Can she protect her heart from a cycle of deceit? The online community weighs in, questioning the marriage’s future and urging her to prioritize her own peace.

‘AIW for not letting my husband go on a boys trip after us coming back from vacation?’

Initial context of the Italy trip and boys trip proposal:

So my husband and I just came back from Italy last week (Fri), we live in the US. During our trip his friend invited him to go on this trip,...

Fast-forward to yesterday he brings it up again, this time informing me hes leaving Tues-Thurs.. Thats when I got bothered and said I am not ok with you going.. Let...

Discovery of husband’s hidden drinking before Italy:

So the morning of our flight to Italy, I was cleaning up and I found a bottle of vodka hidden in his night stand, he has a DUI, he's promised...

I felt I was rewarding him with this trip (I paid entirely for it) so I tried to get a friend to come instead but she couldnt due to a...

Failed promises and continued drinking in Italy:

We talked, he promised no more drinking after this trip, etc. He obviously drank on the trip and he kept reassuring me this was it.. So now we are back...

I guess I have resentment towards him. He lied and hid his drinking, he's in between jobs, he just came back from vacation and he's leaving again? While I have...

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The wife’s refusal to allow her husband’s Vegas trip is justified, rooted in his repeated lies about drinking and betrayal during their Italy vacation, which she funded. Her resentment reflects a breach of trust, exacerbated by his unemployment and disregard for her efforts.

Her husband’s hidden alcoholism likely drives his behavior, as denial and deceit are common in addiction, per studies like those in Addiction journal. His promise to quit lacks credibility without professional intervention, placing an unfair burden on her to enforce boundaries.

The husband may feel controlled, perceiving her refusal as punitive, but his actions—lying and drinking—undermine his autonomy. Her role as the sole provider adds imbalance, risking codependency if unaddressed.

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Advice: Attend Al-Anon meetings to navigate his addiction’s impact and set firm boundaries, such as requiring sobriety or therapy before trips. Consider couples counseling to address trust issues. Reflect on whether the marriage aligns with her needs, prioritizing her mental health.

Let’s dive into the reactions from Reddit:

The online community supports the wife, emphasizing her husband’s addiction and dishonesty, urging her to set boundaries and reconsider the marriage.

ultrathin_t_rex − The relationship needs to be open and honest first of all. If you know he’s been drinking, then find the time that is good and talk about it....

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I do not think you are wrong. I think he needs to find a job to bring in income after mooching off you or at least have a job lined...

mochiko_noriko − This sounds tough. I'm of the opinion that you don't "let" your partner do or not do anything, you can make it known how you feel but they...

You have major trust issues in this relationship. He seems intent on drinking and hiding it, you can't mitigate that by any means like a breathalyzer or rules, and it's...

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Check in with your needs. Is this a relationship you still want to be in? Can you see him honestly working on it? If you let him figure out what...

mysticmedley − The fact that you feel you have to get a breathalyzer shows that there’s no trust. And you have no basis for trust because he is and has...

You can’t make him stay home from Vegas, because he’s an adult. He’s probably going to find a way to go. And that’s ok, because you’re going to need time...

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He’s not going to stop until he wants to. The more you demand and threaten things like breathalyzers, you’re going to be the bad guy. Don’t play that role. Let...

But don’t be surprised if he doesn’t think he has a problem. Take care of yourself first and foremost. It’s like they say during the safety briefing on the airplanes:...

Some emphasized the husband’s addiction and inability to quit without help:

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PurpleStar1965 − If he his hiding alcohol he cannot quit. And I mean cannot. He is too far into the addiction to be able to quit on his own. He...

But he would have to want to quit and be willing to do the work to get and stay sober. Of course he will drink on the Vegas trip. And...

Go to some Al-anon meetings. Do some research into local programs. Call some therapists. Be proactive. Sadly this will only get worse and the only person you can save is...

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Sabinene − You can tell him he CANT go, but it wont stop him from drinking. You can tell him he CAN go, and it wont stop him from drinking....

The only thing that will stop him from drinking is if HE wants to stop drinking. Thats the unfortunate reality with addicts and addiction. You cant ultimatum them into stopping....

You cant get angry enough to make them stop. You cant guilt them into stopping. You are literally powerless over their actions and their choice to continue to use their...

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You need to decide what your boundaries are and you need to lay them out very clearly. Then, the hard part. You need to stick to them. But you need...

Its about you protecting your own mental health and your own sanity. Get yourself into an Al Anon meeting, and quick. You need to come to terms with the fact...

His sobriety is NOT your responsibility. Its a hard pill to swallow, but anyone who has lived through addiction and recovery will tell you the same thing. The only person...

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lotusblossom60 − You need to go to Alanon. You are dreaming if you think you can control or stop his drinking. You want to be married to someone you are...

Some questioned the marriage’s viability and suggested separation:

[Reddit User] − Nothing you do will stop him from drinking (said as the ex wife of an aoholic). He'll just learn to hide it better and you will just...

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NoBarracuda5415 − So, you want a sullen angry aoholic to spend more time with you? Why? Let him go and use the three days to research divorce lawyers.

lai4basis − In theory this will work but does nothing to solve your problem. This won't keep him from drinking. You can't fix him. .....

Some criticized the husband’s irresponsibility and financial dependence:

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PorQpineSpiritAnimal − If he is 'in between jobs' then who is paying for the Vegas trip? Which he totally won't drink on cuz nobody drinks in Vegas. ..We all know...

EggplantIll4927 − The drinking is a deal breaker for me. I will not abide a liar. I will support you through recovery but I will not tolerate a liar in...

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PettyWhite81 − You're not wrong. He doesn't have a job to pay for the vacation. And Vegas is not cheap. As far as the drinking is concerned, there is no...

Some urged setting boundaries to protect her mental health:

thesnarkypotatohead − You can't stop him from going, but you can create and communicate your boundaries around his drinking. For example, my mom's husband is an a**oholic, the kind who...

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He is not supposed to drink when around her anymore. If he does, the deal is she will immediately leave and he can find his own way home. (I'd love...

My boundary around him is that I don't want to hear anything about him or his opinions from her, and I will not spend time with him when he drinks,...

What you can control is you and your boundaries. How will you respond if he goes and drinks? (Which. .. he certainly will. He isn't committed to sobriety and he's...

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What will be your response if he goes, drinks and lies? Remember, boundaries aren't punishments. It's about removing yourself from a situation you don't enjoy and aren't okay with being...

For example: If you go on a bender, I am going to go stay with my friend for a week. If you go to Vegas and lie to me about...

Or whatever works for you, those are just examples. And either way, he needs to get a job. It isn't fair that you support the both of you while he...

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Some highlighted the relationship’s imbalance and dysfunction:

I_Dont_Like_Rice − Oh, all of this is no bueno. He's got problems with alcohol is lying about it is unemployed is getting used to you spoiling him is getting used...

"last time, I promise! " is getting ready to go on a bender in Las Vegas He is becoming a drunk, spoiled house cat while you play mommy and work....

A healthy, functional, adult relationship doesn't have a 'let' in it. This relationship is unbalanced and dysfunctional. If your bf was serious about your relationship and about quitting drinking,

you two would have had a discussion about this trip and how it's not conducive to abstaining from booze. He would have made the responsible decision not to go if...

Some questioned the wife’s approach to controlling his behavior:

shredhillz − The fact that you tell him not to drink , then drink with him, is a huge red flag for both of you .

This saga of broken promises and hidden bottles reveals the toll of addiction on trust and partnership. The woman was justified in refusing her husband’s Vegas trip, stung by his lies and drinking during their Italy vacation. The online community supports her, urging boundaries and reflection on the marriage’s future. As she navigates this heartbreak, her next steps will define her path.

What do you think of her stance? How would you handle a partner’s deceit in addiction?

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