sclarke,
I'm not saying it's any worse in the U.K. than the U.S. but it seems the British pub is very much an extension of your own home. I could see how a person could get very accustomed to that. There are bars and liquor stores everywhere here in the States. I must pass at least 10 of them on my way home from work everyday and I only live 6 miles from work! With so much availability, I know from experience it's very hard to quit drinking when you have a problem.
That EX of yours sounds very DANGEROUS. I think you should stay VERY far away from him NO MATTER how much you may love and/or obsess over him. Violent crackheads do VERY sick things! They're already unpredictable.