How to deal with an over-talkative alcoholic who has no manners?

Asked by rebbel (35547

) July 9th, 2011

This is the situation: My girlfriend’s parents run a restaurant in Greece , my girlfriend works there too.
I am visiting her for some weeks and when her shift starts I accompany her and do some little jobs.
Almost every day this guy passes buy to drink one, sometimes two beers (we are the umthiest restaurant/bar he visits every day).
He’s a fellow Dutchmen, but he lives there.
He likes to chat to me, but his talking is so slurred, slow and boring/uninteresting that it drains my energy (energy I rather spent on my girlfriend).
It can take literally minutes to simply tell me about how much a car cost that he owned thirty years ago…
He is on obvious alcoholic and seems to have lost all understanding of etiquette and/or social behaviour.
When I start a conversation with my girl he feels no shame and interrupts us.
The simple thing would be to bluntly tell him that I don’t like his behaviour, i know, but he is after all a customer, a customer of my parents in law’s restaurant…
Any Jellies around with wise advice?!
It would be much appreciated.

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9 Answers

I’d give him to him straight, he may not realize what he’s doing to you.

Paul (2717

)“Great Answer” (3

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1. Talk to him away from the restaurant, so that you’re not “representing” it, and get across to him (subtly or not) that you don’t want to spend time with him.
2. Be too busy while in the restaurant to be able to spend time with him.
3. Introduce him to another drunk – someone else may appreciate that as well!

WasCy (10112

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Why not simply and politely ask your gf’s parents for some advice. It’s their restaurant and their daughter.

gailcalled (54644

)“Great Answer” (9

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If he is just there for one or two can you exit the restaurant for a bit?

JLeslie (65411

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He won’t notice if you just get up and walk away. Do what you need to do, and don’t feel like you have to cater to him or be polite.

St.George (5865

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@rebbel: Explain that you will only speak to him in Greek. I assume that his English, like all Dutchmen’s, is as fluent as yours

gailcalled (54644

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Start proselytizing. Try to convert him to being a Mormon or a Jehovah’s Witness. Most people can’t get away fast enough when they hear the words “Have you heard the good news?”.

Aethelflaed (13752

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Thanks guys and gals, some very nice advice here!
The stand up and walk away/do my jobs is pretty convenient, as is the telling him in a different setting.
@gailcalled Unfortunately I know him for about three years already and I am ashamed to say that his Greek is better than mine.
His English sucks though as does his Dutch.

rebbel (35547

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