How close is too close for a STUDENT TEACHER RELATIONSHIP?

Is it normal for a professor (in college) to be talking online to his students about non-school topics? You go to conferences together (for school) and he comes and drinks in the room with the students is this appropriate? You have seen him drunk several times, he has told you personal stories from his past, you go out to play poker (in a group) every week... is any of that wrong? Does it make a difference if he is married?

I know how this story ends... just going back and looking at it from the beginning. He is like that with all his research students though, not just me.

If it's college, I'm thinking you're all legally adults (I'm English, so trying to figure out college system in the USA). I would say that it's okay to have a normal conversation with your lecturers or professors, even when it's not about college work.

When I was studying, our class, including the teacher, were all really close. Like a big family sort of thing. We went on trips and stuff, and in the evenings we would go out to a bar and drink. Nobody got drunk as such, but we did drink and have a laugh together. OUR situation was totally innocent, but it depends on the people involved.

When it becomes weird is when he/she is flirting with students, or being a little too personal in their conversation topic. I wouldn't worry about them discussing shopping or soccer or movies. It's just being human.

He is misguided and not behaving in a manner befitting a professor or teacher of any kind. He needs to stick to his own friends and home and not try to befriend his students so much.

This professor has crossed some boundaries, and has behaved inappropriately and unprofessionally.

This is a great big NO. He is wrong. Everything t