Yep, exactly right. There are a lot of legal bad things out there too, but like you say, they don’t generally grip you as much as drugs do and ruin every aspect of your life.
I only travel out twice a year, usually for up to a three-week stay. I usually go in March and September. I’d go out more if I could, but money won’t allow me. Having retired from nursing years ago due to ill health, I now work for myself and money is always tight sadly.
I can take a wild guess that the two times I am there is not the only time this all occurs. He works really long hours (up to 11 hours a day depending on how busy his bar is) and has just Tuesday’s off. I can imagine him taking the Coke just to keep himself energised.
I don’t know Danman. Who ever knows except the person themselves?
You’re right about excuses. He totally plays it down as nothing, but just the mere fact he does it at all makes me doubt it isn’t a bigger issue.