Hi Meggy!
welcome, Im new here also but have found SR to be tremendously helpful already.
I agree with Lexie - the fact that HE brought this up by himself is a good sign - a GREAT sign in fact.
Its only the first step, but its a start!
How old are your kids? are they aware of anything?
It sounds like he kept it hidden well, and was a 'steady' like mine. just buzzed all day long, rarely falling down drunk.
That almost worse someimes!