Substance abuse exists as a widespread problem because many adults are fallible and don't have foolproof strategies for coping with every situation.

“It’s as simple as making a career-limiting move without anyone understanding why”. Gotcha

Or… plan work activities that don’t involve drinking? Would you only plan work activities that people who can’t walk could not go to? Same thing.

@SebastiaanvandenBroek you don't think making a big deal out of being a recovering alcoholic liable to lapse at the sight of a drink is career limiting?

@Joe no idea how that applies. The OP isn't planning anything, except possibly telling everyone that his colleague is an alcoholic..

I don't understand how you people think it appropriate to get involved with others personal issues uninvited. If the reformed alcoholic asked for strategies I'd give them, but for someone else wanting to interfere uninvited, it's none of their business.

Nobody here is necessarily saying to directly involve oneself. What we're saying is dismissing the concern as irrelevant is wrong.

@Joe still makes no sense... my very short answer clearly says not to get involved, nothing else....never saying that's it's not a concern...... seems like you're arguing against something I never wrote..... feel free to downvote

@Kilisi "Not going out of your way to buy a flask" and "saying no when you're already in a bar, surrounded by other people drinking, and the boss offers you a beer" aren't the same thing. For many people in recovery, avoiding situations that might tempt them to relapse is part of their coping strategy. Any ex-alcoholic is likely already putting in a lot of effort to stay on the wagon; it's basic courtesy for the rest of us not to throw extra temptations in their way.

@GeoffreyBrent Sure, but what does that have to do with my answer? I don't drink... my reasons are my business, anyone asking me to drink just gets 'No thanks, I don't drink'.... simple. But that has zero to do with the answer.... feel free to downvote as well.... seems a few people are reading a totally different answer somehow.

@Kilisi I wish everybody had that same confidence in saying no to every unwanted invitation. But for a recovering alcoholic these things often aren't simple.

There's nothing in this answer that suggested to me that it's "dismissing the concern as irrelevant." The only problem I have personally is in the comment "it's as simple as not going." Suggesting that the recovering alcoholic simply not go to an event is a mistake, in my opinion. But that suggestion is not in the Answer itself. The Answer itself is short, to the point, and it has no BS and no sugar-coating. Those are qualities that one would expect to see in answers from @Kilisi on this SE, if you've been here awhile.

The simple fact is that the OP is the Team Lead. Depending where you are that means you may be more or less legally responsible for what happens if your team member attends this event and falls off the wagon, but you definitely have a moral responsibility. We're not talking about someone who is hiding his alcoholism, we're talking about someone who has "undergone counseling due to alcohol abuse / excessive drinking." The opposite side of censuring someone for bringing their substance abuse problems to work is that you have to support them when they try to get help!

@Brandin yes I too had more issues with the now deleted comment than the answer. Although I think not getting involved is poor advice for a team lead.

This is the correct answer, so of course all the adult babies here downvoted

The situation described in the question is a situation in which something very bad may happen to a particular person. The asker has the opportunity to help that person out. Your answer seems to be basically saying, "You should ignore the situation and do nothing to help." I find it hard to imagine why anyone would give such advice. Do you think that it would not be a bad thing if something bad happened to the team member in question? Do you think that people should not try to prevent bad things from happening?

@TannerSwett I didn't say that. Nothing bad has happened, on the minimal chance that it does, I say for the OP to back up their team member. Until then there isn't a need to do anything, and telling people the team member is a recovering alcholohic liable to lose control at any time isn't doing him any favours.

@eps Referring to other users as "adult babies" is inappropriate. I would appreciate it if you would delete your comment.

@Kilisi I'm starting to understand your position. If I understand you right, your opinion is that the chance of anything bad happening is minimal, and that if anything bad does happen, it won't be anything that can't be pretty much fixed by backing up the team member against whoever is bothering them.

Maybe your answer would be improved by saying that explicitly.