In South Carolina, a marriage dissolution may be granted if one party can demonstrate that the other is an alcoholic. This ground for divorce requires proof of a consistent and persistent pattern of intoxication that interferes with the marital relationship. Evidence typically involves demonstrating a dependency on alcohol, along with its associated behaviors, and how these behaviors detrimentally impact the well-being of the spouse and the marital unit.
The inclusion of this provision within the state’s divorce laws acknowledges the significant strain that alcohol abuse can place on a marriage. Historically, such grounds for divorce reflected societal recognition of the destructive nature of addiction and offered a legal recourse for individuals seeking to end marriages rendered untenable by these circumstances. Successfully proving this claim can offer a pathway to legal separation and a fresh start for the aggrieved spouse, free from the burdens associated with the other party’s alcohol dependence.
