Originally Posted by
clarity888 
I feel it would help in the long run to separate, but am afraid because maybe I should try to help him through this, it's his first relapse.
Hi Clarity
What exactly are you afraid of? Are you afraid that not being there to "support" him will have him spiraling off back in to drinking full time?
honeypig makes that very important point. If you could help him, would it not already have helped? This is NO reflection on you by the way, this is just the way it is with addiction. He needs to want to not drink, that's it. Right now, he wants to drink. He needs professional help, if he chooses that.
Please don't take this on yourself.
As for your Son, I say he would be more crushed if Dad was drunk all the time and he has to witness it, so if you do separate just remember you are protecting him and that is what you need to do (as I know you already know). It's not easy.