The first mom was simply a suspicion. Let it go and keep an eye out. She may have been nervous, intimidated, or have some ADHD issues of her own. Find her something to do that fits her.

As for the second...Good for you for speaking up! As a mom of 3 and a former Police Officer, this is what I would do... First priority has to be the kids, our whole purpose. School is a place for children to be safe & see healthy role models, never a place for any amount of alcohol. She plainly admitted to drinking 4 beers before the meeting. Wow! I don't know about you, but for me, 4 and I think I would be almost unconscious! The school couselor is an excellent resource & an absolute must for the children's sake (bet the counselor won't be suprised either.) Next is the Principal, they simply need to know what happens on school grounds. Finally, call the police if she drives too or from the school. Let them decide what to do. They have full discretion to help, assist, or arrest this mother. They may also be aware of her (and her children.) Most of us wouldn't think of driving under any influence of alcohol, yet alone with our children, but know that many do! So, take a deep breath, stand up straight (because you're obviously a wonderful person,) and let those who can help intervene & get this family help. Be a friend if you can, don't let anyone continue to bad talk her (you never know what another is going through), but point this situation in the right direction where a someone who can, can really get involved with the whole family. If no one seems to listen or care, you can call your County's Child Protection Agency to simply voice your concern. They'll listen.
And thanks for caring, you may just change those childrens'life for the better!

We have a similar situation. There is a mom of a 4th grader who has been a raging alcoholic since I met her in Kindergarten. (her daughter and mine were in the same class-hers got held back). She is always offering to help at the school and I have to make excuses for why we don't need her when we desperately need volunteers! She is trashed at 8am, has gotten into multiple car accidents ( a few outside of school), drives like she's in nascar, and has already been arrested for fighting with her husband and had to spend the night in jail and do anger management classes. Unfortunately, she is a very sweet person, and regardless of the alcohol, if I needed her somewhere at a given time she would be there--she is very dependable, but I CAN'T let her help, she's always drunk!!!!!!!!!

Whenever I see someone behaving inappropriately in public-drunk at a school function, smacking their child upside the head in the store, I always think: If they'll do that in public, what will they do at home? At a former place of employment my subordinates and I called the police on a couple of occasions-one with a man who was so drunk he literally stumbled his way to his car and another time for a mom who stood in the store and hit her child up side the head with a video tape. We just couldn't sit there and do nothing and then open the paper the next day and find out some tragedy was caused by our not wanting to get involved.

What about cluing the school counselor in on these situations? Often times they have degrees in social work and may even have experience in dealing with a crisis such as this. As far as I'm concerned, drinking at inappropriate times and places constitutes a crisis and a family one at that. If we are appalled by this behavior, imagine how their child(ren) feel.

During a skate party we had a mom go in and out of the building asking to be let in if she went to out for a smoke. Well after the third time the rink manager/owner stopped her and was about blown away by her breath! Apperantly "Jack Daniels" should have bought a ticket too, she smelled so bad! He realized that this was a PTO event but did call the police (has a friend on the force that was happy to come over to make sure the kids got home okay). The mom was arrested and dad came for the kids.

We have had problems with employees at the school that are maintence. Two are now gone and one is left but he is cleaning-up. To make things harder, his wife left him and he did fall of the wagon but once school started and (I hope seeing "The Girls- as he calls us") seeing the kids helped him realize how much our school needs his help!

I wonder if you should mention this to your Administration, you know, as a concerned parent wondering how to best handle this situation. Plus, if she had four beers and can't handle a simple task how in the "h e double hockie sticks" did she drive to the school!!! And how did her child(ren) get home??
Many be the police need to met her at the door to prevent her....

If you are sure this is going on and not just going on heresay, you might want to consider bringing the principal in on this. He/ she is ultimately responsible for what goes on in the school and should be made aware of the situation. This is really more than a PTO matter IMO if it is happening on school grounds.