Sarah2 wrote: '...some alcoholics might just be better at facing it if more people would "give up on them" and tell them, "I really care about you, but I'm not trained to handle this. So call me again when you're ready to face life and get off the booze."'

I've tried that with my mother and it doesn't work. The withdrawal becomes another undeserved attack. Denial should be listed as one of the greatest powers on Earth.

UB Dan, you are doing nothing that this thread is pointing to. From your description you are not getting falling down drunk. You are having a few while in the pub. We do something similar at the Press Room in Portsmouth. But we aren't being paid to entertain. We are there for a beer "...and, oh by the way, here is a song..." If someone was paying me to entertain then I would have to agree with Wes who says the performer should look on it as his job and stay sober. There is little entertainment value in watching someone get drunk. You can do that in any bar, any night of the week.