Sadly it's out of their control, one binge and they are under alcohol's thumb.

I remember my dad coming home from 'confession' Darren, and he pretended to be drunk.

Mum told him that wasn't at all funny. She was right.

My cousin Barney was an alcoholic, and one day when his daughters were coming home from school, a friend drew attention to the drunk on the side of the road.

"Don't worry.It's my dad," one of them said.

From that day on he cleaned up his act, took the family to Ireland to begin a new life, and had set up a good business.

Sadly, his car skidded on black ice and he was killed. I don't know when I ever felt so sad.