My daughter – 40 – is the single parent of 4 year old. She is an alcoholic in denial. She ticks all the boxes. She has drank heavily for over 20 years. During much of this time she lived with her father whose drinking and gambling caused the end of our marriage. Their “home” was like a doss house, littered with empty booze bottles. My daughter drank throughout pregnancy, sleeping with her newborn and continues to do so. My grandson’s first trip to the pub was at 5 days old. This was winter time. Family members tried to help her, but my ex husband would always get in the way, saying she doesn’t really drink that much. I hoped things would change when18 months ago she was given social housing. I paid for her lovely new lovely home to be carpeted , fully furnished and all new appliances. I helped with child care (whilst she worked – in a pub as she refuses to work anywhere else). I helped with housework, gardening and took her on holidays only to again witness just how out of control her drinking was.. I did hope having a lovely new home would make her change, but it hasn’t. She drinks because she simply likes to drink. It started off socially and became a habit. Outside of pre-school, my grandsons life is spent either in the pub or at home where his mother drinks until she falls asleep. He pretty much fends for himself at home: finding food and drink, putting himself to bed. We had a big fall-out over her drinking and neglect of her son at Christmas. Now she has cut me off. I am so worried for my grandson. Do I get Social Services involved ??? Has anyone had experience of what they will actually do ? So worried my grandson could be taken into care.