Valleys face the hangover of a rising booze problem

Jan 17 2008 Cynon Valley Leader

The “booze culture” in the South Wales Valleys is growing at an alarming rate. With the Christmas and New Year season now well and truly behind us, Gary Marsh takes a look at the extent of the problem

‘I can’t believe I used to be like that’

CASE STUDY

MIKE, AGED 16

“I HAVE been drinking since I was 12 – all my mates started drinking and I started following them.

“I would be on lager every Friday, Saturday and maybe even Sunday, in the park or on a street corner – I’d have about 15 cans a night.

“I then turned to the hard stuff and found myself necking a bottle of vodka with my friends in the park – we would be hammered.

“On Monday I would get to school and think ‘I can’t wait for Friday to come so I can drink again’.

“The weekends were a way to escape by drinking and getting away from all the stress of school – I would live for the weekends.

“I’d get an older person to buy it for me and I would just stand outside the shop and wait for the drink.

“I would just sit in the park until about 1am drinking with mates.

“Mam and dad were always asleep when I got home, so they did not see the state I was in.

“I would have something to eat and go straight to bed.”

Mike has since had treatment for alcohol misuse and is now back at school.

He is doing an apprenticeship to become a carpenter, while studying for his GCSEs at the same time.

“I’m just glad I don’t do it anymore – I cannot believe I ever used to be like that,” he said.