My family consists of myself and my parents. My father would always go to work sober, and then come home drunk. Even now, after all these years, he comes home early in the morning, and five to six days out of the week, he is probably drunk by the time he gets home. He always has some excuse.. like his friends, or acquaintances showed up. Some special occasion.. who knows. If it is not too late when he gets home, he will have something to eat, and opens a can of beer. But it's not like he goes out to bars, or anything.

Would he be considered an alcoholic?

-- bloodylogos
"Get away from me."

I believe your father does have a mild case of alcoholism. Maybe it's become so routine for everyone that it doesn't seem like it could be considered alcoholism.

I'd suggest that you and your mom try to talk with him about it, to see what he has to say. Maybe that'd be a bit uncomfortable, but it might help. I've had friends in alcoholic families who’ve said that counseling works.

But yes, I think your dad is suffering from alcoholism. It's nothing that can't be helped, though.

Oh wow, I had no idea. That's definitely alcohol abuse. There are groups that help alcoholics quit but I know that most Asians aren't into the therapy thing, coming from an Asian family myself. However, the first step is for your father to admit that he has a problem. If he is in self-denial, there is little that could be done to help him. It's all about attitude.

Does a midlife crisis last longer than eighteen years?
I don't think his situation is normal, honestly, but I'm.. not willing to call him.. you know, an alcoholic. It happens so often, these stories of alcoholism. But I can't see my own as.. the same. Or am I in denial?

Yes. Maybe he's going through a mid-life crisis? My dad recently went through one of those. I remember he sang karaoke a lot and quit his job to travel for a few months. Mom wasn't too pleased.