Thank you very much! That was quite an insightful comment, and it gave me some sound advice on what to do. I've written a long email to my mother telling her my standpoint and describing her how I feel and think she should push forward. I'll be sure to update you with progress.

I would like to mention, however, that my father doesn't drink to cope with life. He began drinking at the age of 8; my grandfather was an alcoholic. Drinking is a part of my dad's life, and he just overdoes it on the weekends and indulges heavily. I could have been more specific when I intially wrote the thread topic, but I was so damn tired.