Problems they have had recently
Why they decided to cut-down on their drinking
Rosie
Rosie has had several regrettable incidents in the last few months. She has been leaving the bars and clubs with men and often getting into arguments with other girls inside clubs and on the street, mostly about boys. She has been cautioned and arrested for assault and public disorder offences. Rosie has been called to appear in court on a charge of assault and affray.
For Rosie’s mum, this was the final straw. She told her that she will not be used as a free babysitter any more while Rosie goes out and gets drunk. Rosie had to tell people at her college what had happened and also ask for a character reference, which they did not want to give. Rosie decided to stop keeping up with friends on a Saturday night and drank less. She found she enjoyed dancing in a club just as much, and for the first time in ages she can remember getting home (alone).
Callum
Callum receives benefits, most of which are spent on lager, meaning he often asks his mum for loans or clothes, causing big rows at home. Most nights, Callum meets a gang of friends in the city centre, where he drinks cans and smokes weed. He often gets into trouble with the police, and has recently been in court for breaking into a newsagents.
Callum’s mother has had enough and tells him he has to leave home. After spending a couple of weeks staying at mates’ houses, Callum found he had nowhere to go. He had to ask his support worker for housing advice; he is now in his first flat and on a training scheme. Callum has not got the money to drink like he used to, because he needs his rent and bus fares. He is determined not to mess up this time.
Mark
Mark feels like he is in a rut: his life follows a routine of work and pub. Recently, he has been drinking more heavily with the lads on Saturday nights – a couple of times he has fallen in his flat, and last week he was hit by a car when he stumbled in the street.
Mark has joined his local fitness centre and met an old friend. He has started playing five-a-side football every week. Since getting fit, Mark feels great and notices he has started getting a lot more attention from women.
Ian
Ian was looking forward to his monthly Saturday session. However, he has found that he cannot handle it like he used to, and by the end of the night he is feeling tired, confused and irritable. After waiting for an hour for a taxi home, Ian was taking a pee in a shop doorway. Unfortunately, a police officer passed by and gave Ian a caution, which Ian did not take well. Ian was arrested and spent the night in the cells.
Waking up in police cells on a Sunday morning was humiliating. Going home and explaining to his wife and kids where he had been was even worse. He had the added worry of people at work finding out he had been arrested. Ian knows that this was a wake-up call and that his Saturday sessions have to be brought under control. Realising that trying to explain to the lads that he was going to lay off the all-day sessions was going get him some stick from his mates, he made the decision to watch the match at his local pub.
Anna
Anna recently went for drinks on a Friday, straight from work after a very hard week. The bar near work had a deal where buying two glasses of wine meant you got the rest of the bottle free. She started off drinking with people from work, but over the evening they left. Anna was too drunk to care and was talking to strangers. She cannot remember the last two hours she was out, nothing at all. The police picked up Anna off the street, where she was sitting and crying; she could not remember where she lived and had trouble standing – she had also lost her bag and coat.
Anna sobered up while she was being interviewed by a female police officer about what had happened to her. She was not charged, but was cautioned about her behaviour, while waiting for her boyfriend to come and pick her up. Anna has realised that she drinks every evening out of habit more than enjoyment. Anna thought that drinking helped her relax at the end of the day. She did not have a drink for a week; by the end, she realised she had not slept so well for a long time and felt like she had much more energy. Anna now goes home straight after work on a Friday night.
Barbara
Barbara has suffered from a persistent infection recently; her doctor has told her that if she reduced her drinking, she would get better quicker. She finds she sometimes feels lonely when she has had a drink – occasionally she will call family and friends when drunk, and this can cause arguments and upset.
Barbara has realised that she drinks every evening to hide the fact she feels lonely. She did not have a drink for a week; by the end she realised she had not slept so well for a long time and feels like she has much more energy to go and do things in the day. Barbara has joined a local painting class and now enjoys afternoons being creative and having a busier social life.
Billy
Billy is lonely. Billy lost contact with his old friends and family years ago, when his drinking took over his life. He lost his home years ago and stays at a hostel.
Billy was asleep in a doorway and was set upon by three men. Billy was badly hurt and was in hospital for some time. He decided to talk to someone about his drinking and get help. He has not had a drink for a few weeks and is beginning to look at the future for the first time in years.