atalose, I don't see how Drinking Buddy could not know, but she specifically told AW in their phone conversation "You are not an alcoholic". Drinking Buddy knows how AW broke her ankle, but doesn't think she's an alcoholic? I don't know Drinking Buddy that well, but our daughter is good friends with her daughter. She says DB drinks like a fish herself, but never turns into a zombie the way AW does.
So, my suspicion is that DB is an alcoholic, too, and they're just propping each other up. One thing I find odd is that DB is a religious fanatic. How she reconciles that with her drinking and enabling AW's drinking is beyond me.
Laurie, that sounds like good advice. I haven't gotten a handle on this thing yet, and I know that just further enables AW. Al-Anon, I know, is something I should do; I just haven't summoned up the courage yet. I'm a very introverted person... that's one reason I find this website so valuable.