Where does Bob Ewell go to drink in To Kill a Mockingbird?

During Atticus's cross-examination of Mayella in chapter 18, it is revealed that Bob Ewell spends the money from his relief checks on alcohol and travels into the swamp for days at a time to drink by himself. While Bob Ewell is drinking in the woods, Mayella stays at home, taking care of her siblings by herself. As part of his cross-examination, Atticus builds his case by presenting Mayella's terrible home life for the jury to consider. The jury listens as Mayella elaborates on how her father neglects the entire family and even becomes violent at times. Bob Ewell is by far the most despicable citizen in Maycomb, and Atticus tells Scout in chapter three that the authorities even allow him to hunt out of season so that his children do not starve. Instead of using his relief checks to feed his family, Bob prefers to spend it on green whiskey and drink in the forest alone. After Mayella describes her unfortunate home life in chapter 18, Atticus asks her if she has any friends, which offends Mayella and makes Scout realize that she must be the loneliest person in the world.

Why is Bob Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird an alcoholic?

As the other answer states, Bob Ewell has inherited a genetic predisposition to alcoholism. We know now that some people have the ability to drink heavily without getting sick, and this can make it more likely they will develop an alcohol dependency: there is no natural "stop sign" to keep them limited to just a few drinks. It is also thought that grief at his wife's death led to Ewell's heavy drinking, but how true this is is open to question.

The Ewells are despised by the rest of the white community in Maycomb as shiftless white trash who every one else has to help support. They are considered dirty and unfit to be invited over. They also can't associate with blacks, as that would mean crossing the town's strict racial divide. We can imagine that as a lonely outcast, Ewell might turn to drink as a way to try to blot out his feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy. Also, if he was left with a number of children to support, which is the case, he could also be trying to escape having to take responsibility for raising them. Ewell is responsible for his behavior but factors outside his control have also influenced him in negative ways.

Bob is the novel's antagonist and is known as the most despicable individual in Maycomb County. Bob Ewell has several children, is unemployed, and lives behind the towns' garbage dump. The root of Bob's drinking problem is a combination of being genetically predisposed to alcoholism and suffering immense emotional strain following the death of his wife. In Chapter 9, Atticus is having a discussion with his brother about the trial. Atticus asks Uncle Jack if he is familiar with the Ewells, and Jack describes them accurately. Atticus says, "You're a generation off. The present ones are the same, though" (Lee 117). This information, coupled with the fact that Bob's parents named him Robert E. Lee Ewell, after the Confederate General, suggests that Bob's parents were heavy drinkers as well. Harper Lee does not elaborate on when Bob Ewell's wife died, but traumatic events, such as losing a spouse, could have played a major role in his alcoholism. Bob is viewed with contempt by the community of Maycomb and their indignant feelings towards him could also contribute to his drinking problem.