Ross’s Story

My name is Ross and I’m 42 years old. I first drank alcohol when my friends and I at school became of the age to start going to nightclubs. At that time, it was a purely social affair, and drinking was only part of the broader activity of socialising. My drinking began to progress to binge drinking and then alcoholic drinking as I got older to the point where socialising was never part of it, and I only drank alone in my flat. 

At first alcohol enhanced my social activities and was an indispensable part of an evening out. As my drinking progressed into binge drinking, I would have blackouts and find out that I had behaved inappropriately towards others. As my drinking progressed into alcoholism, I removed myself from society and burned the bridges I had made for my career, and alienated myself from my family. My family suffered a lot of distress as they could only look on whilst I slowly edged towards an alcoholic death. 

One of the largest factors that contributed to the onset of my alcoholism, I believe, is the prices dished out by nightclubs to students at the time. I remember that spirits were only 50p and a pint would often be only one pound. Student venues, including the student unions where you could get away with drinking throughout the day, would promote these prices, not only making heavy drinking affordable, but fostering an environment where excessive drinking was glamourised e.g. drinking competitions. 

I was fortunate enough to receive funding to go into a treatment centre that specialises in treatment for alcoholism. Thanks to this service and the treatment they provided I have been able to remain abstinent from alcohol for nearly 17 months. I believe that one way to help reduce harm from alcohol would be for greater funding to be provided to people suffering from alcoholism to enter into treatment facilities. 

I believe that people should be aware that alcohol can cause serious health problems up to and including addiction or dependence. I think awareness should be raised as to the signs of alcohol dependence so that people may better inform themselves early on whether they can consume alcohol safely.