Watching a loved one struggle with alcohol use can be heartbreaking. You may feel overwhelmed, unsure of how to help, or afraid of making the situation worse. But taking action sooner rather than later can make a significant difference in your sibling’s health, relationships, and overall well-being. This page will help you recognize the signs of alcohol use disorder (AUD), understand how to talk to your brother about his drinking, and explore treatment options that can support his recovery.

Understanding Alcohol Addiction

If your brother drinks too much, you may wonder why he doesn’t simply stop. However, alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic, relapsing brain disease, not just a matter of willpower.¹

AUD is characterized by an inability to control alcohol consumption despite negative mental, physical, and social consequences. People with AUD may experience compulsive drinking behaviors, cravings, and withdrawal symptoms that make quitting difficult without professional support.¹

While AUD can be challenging, it is a treatable condition, and many people achieve long-term recovery with the right help. Understanding AUD is the first step in learning how to help your brother who drinks too much. By recognizing the signs of alcohol addiction and exploring treatment options, you can play a key role in encouraging his recovery journey.¹

Signs Your Brother May Struggle With Alcohol Addiction

If your brother is addicted to alcohol, recognizing the signs can help you understand when it’s time to seek professional support. While only a doctor or licensed addiction specialist can diagnose AUD, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) outlines 11 criteria used to assess the severity of the condition.

Signs your brother is addicted to drinking may include experiencing two or more of the following symptoms within the past year:²

Drinking more alcohol or for a longer period than intended.
Trying to cut down or stop drinking but being unable to do so. Spending a lot of time obtaining, using, or recovering from alcohol. Experiencing strong cravings or urges to drink.
Failing to meet responsibilities at work, school, or home due to drinking.
Continuing to drink despite alcohol causing relationship problems.
Giving up or reducing important social, work, or recreational activities due to drinking.
Drinking in situations where it is physically dangerous (e.g., driving under the influence).
Continuing to drink despite knowing it is causing or worsening a physical or mental health condition.
Developing a tolerance, meaning needing more alcohol to achieve the desired effect or experiencing a reduced effect from the same amount.
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms (such as shakiness, nausea, sweating, or anxiety) when not drinking.

If you recognize these signs in your brother, he may need professional treatment. Understanding how to help your brother who drinks too much can make a meaningful difference in his recovery journey.

How to Help Your Brother With Alcohol Addiction

Helping a sibling with alcohol addiction can be difficult, and it’s important to recognize what you can and can’t control. You might not be able to force your brother to stop drinking or enter treatment, but you can offer meaningful encouragement and support.

Here are steps you can take to help your brother:^3,4

Educate yourself about AUD: Understanding AUD as a medical condition can help you approach the situation with empathy instead of frustration. Learn about the health effects of alcohol, and the signs, treatment options, and resources available for AUD.
Talk to your brother with compassion: Choose a time when he hasn’t been drinking and express your concerns without judgment. Use “I” statements, such as: “I’m really worried about you and how drinking is affecting your health,” or “I care about you and want to support you in getting help.”
Research treatment options: If your brother is addicted to alcohol, he may not know where to start. You can help by looking into rehab centers that fit his needs, suggesting he speak with a doctor if he’s hesitant to talk to you, or calling a treatment provider on his behalf.
Encourage professional help: Many people with AUD need professional treatment, such as detox, inpatient rehab, or therapy. If he’s open to help, support him in taking the next step.
Offer emotional and practical support: Recovery is challenging, and your support matters. You can help by doing things like attending family or group therapy sessions with him, helping with transportation to appointments or rehab, and being a source of encouragement rather than enabling his drinking.
Seek support for yourself: Helping a loved one with AUD can be emotionally draining. Consider joining Al-Anon or speaking with a counselor for guidance.
Call for professional guidance: If you’re wondering how to help your brother who drinks too much, we’re here to support you. Call for a free, confidential conversation with an admissions navigator at American Addiction Centers (AAC). We can answer your questions, verify insurance coverage, and help you find the right treatment options.

How to Talk to Your Brother About Their Drinking Habits

Starting a conversation about your brother’s drinking can feel overwhelming, but a thoughtful approach can make a difference. The goal is to express concern without judgment or confrontation.

What to Say

It can be helpful to approach your loved one in these ways:^4,5

Choose the right time: Talk when he is sober, in a private setting, and free from distractions.
Express concern with care: Begin with a non-judgmental statement, such as, “I’m really worried about you. Can we talk?”
Listen and validate his feelings: Let him share his thoughts without interrupting or dismissing his experiences.
Offer support instead of demands: Instead of pressuring him to quit, ask, “What’s the best way I can support you?”
Encourage professional help: Offer to help him research treatment options or speak to a doctor about his drinking.
Be patient: Change takes time, and your support can make a difference in his decision to seek help.

What Not to Say

It is important to keep the lines of communication open with your brother. It can be helpful to avoid some of these common pitfalls in talking to your sibling about their alcohol use:^4,5

Don’t lecture or criticize: This can make him defensive and less likely to listen.
Don’t guilt-trip him: Statements like “You’re ruining your life” can make him feel ashamed, which may reinforce drinking behavior.
Don’t make threats: Ultimatums like “If you don’t stop drinking, I’m done with you” rarely lead to positive change.
Don’t use hurtful labels: Avoid calling him an “alcoholic” or “addict.” Instead, focus on his behavior, not his identity.

How to Avoid Enabling Your Brother’s Alcohol Addiction

Supporting a loved one with AUD is difficult, but it’s important for you to set boundaries for yourself and to remember to take care of yourself while you are dealing with your sibling’s alcohol use. It’s harder to help someone if you are not feeling well mentally. Counseling for you can be helpful, as can going to support groups, such as Al-Anon.³ Helping doesn’t mean fixing everything for your brother. It means offering support without enabling his drinking.

Enabling happens when your actions unintentionally make it easier for your brother to continue drinking. While it may feel like you’re helping, certain behaviors can prevent him from facing the consequences of his actions. Examples of enabling behaviors include things like bailing him out of legal trouble, such as paying fines or getting him out of jail. It also includes things like minimizing the seriousness of his drinking, even when it’s harming his health or relationships.

Setting health boundaries is important and can protect both you and your brother, reinforcing that while you care, you won’t enable his addiction. Setting boundaries might include:

Not allowing alcohol use in your home.
Refusing to loan money that could be used to buy alcohol.
Declining to cover up for him, such as by lying to his employer or family.
Stepping back if he refuses help, while letting him know you’re there when he’s ready for treatment.

Finding An Alcohol Rehab For Your Brother

When searching for alcohol rehab options for your brother, it’s important to understand the different types of treatment available. Effective treatment often combines behavioral therapy, group and individual therapy, mutual support groups, and, in some cases, medications to help manage withdrawal symptoms and maintain recovery.^6,7

Treatment programs vary in duration and intensity, and the right choice depends on your brother’s needs. Common approaches to treating AUD include:^6,7

Medical detox: This is often the first step in treatment. Detox helps manage withdrawal symptoms more comfortably and safely under medical supervision. This is especially important if your brother has been drinking heavily, as withdrawal can sometimes lead to severe symptoms.
Inpatient addiction treatment: An inpatient program is where your brother will live full-time at a treatment facility and receive intensive care and support. This can be ideal if he has a more severe AUD, a co-occurring disorder such as anxiety or depression, or if he is mixing alcohol with other substances.
Outpatient addiction treatment programs: These programs vary in duration and intensity but offer a flexible alternative where your brother lives at home while attending therapy sessions during the day or evenings. This option can work well for those with mild to moderate AUD who have a stable support system.

Most inpatient or outpatient treatment programs include some form of evidence-based behavioral therapy that can help individuals change their behaviors and thoughts related to alcohol:^6,7,8

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): Helps individuals identify and modify negative thought patterns that lead to drinking, teaching coping skills to prevent relapse.
12-step facilitation therapy: Encourages involvement in mutual support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), to build a strong recovery network.
Contingency management: Uses a reward-based system to reinforce positive behaviors, such as staying sober and attending therapy sessions.

If you are still struggling to get your brother to agree to go to treatment, you might consider Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT). This evidence-based approach teaches family members effective communication strategies to encourage their loved one to enter treatment without confrontation.⁹

Get Help For Your Brother Today

Helping someone struggling with alcohol can be painful, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Help is available, and recovery is possible. At American Addiction Centers (AAC), we provide compassionate, evidence-based treatment to help individuals break free from AUD and other substance use disorders.

Whether your brother needs detox, inpatient rehab, or outpatient care, we can guide you through treatment options that fit his needs. Call today for a confidential and free consultation. Our admissions navigators are here 24/7 to answer your questions, verify insurance coverage, and help you take the first step toward recovery. Remember, you’re not alone. Use the form below to see if your health insurance can help cover treatment costs.