What It's Like To Be Addicted To Alcohol - Tubes 

Thanks for having me guys, absolutely loved it 🙌🏻🙌🏻

Alcohol is maybe the most damaging of all drugs because of how normalised and widely accepted it is. Just think if you go out with your mates and say ‘I’m not going to drink today’ they all look at you and either laugh, shake their head or persuade you too. It’s seen as socially unacceptable to not drink. Definitely in British culture we link everything to having a drink. Meal, have a drink. Football’s on, have a drink. Out for the night, have a drink. Popping out to the shops in town, stop and have a drink. Home from work, have a drink. Its Friday, have a drink. It’s Saturday, have a drink. It’s Sunday, have a drink. Then we justify drinking every day of the week because ‘fuck it, It’s been a long week and it’s wednesday’. It’s so common. I love a drink, and love the social aspect of it. But it’s a very fine line. It’s very true what people say about if drink was invented now it would be banned. It dehydrates your brain so we can’t process normal thought and do things we wouldn’t usually do. This can be a benefit as it gives confidence, but also false confidence. It turns some men into thinking they’re boxing champions when they’re clearly not, or some people into doing and saying incredibly stupid things which lands them in serious trouble or serious injury. My grandad used to have one pint and he was a horrible person. He wasn’t the nicest of guys to begin with but with any amount of alcohol he was aggressive, sullen, temperamental and horrible to be around. To his credit he avoided drink if he could because it totally twisted his brain. A drink is great, but if you ever feel it’s getting too much, just stop. If your friends or family can’t understand that then it’s a problem with them, not you.

2 years sober checking in.

Cigarettes and alcohol addiction actually destroyed my life. I could remember several years ago after divorce with my wife which brought me into my disastrous journey on Alcohol and cigarettes. I suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Got diagnosed with cptsd. Not until a friend recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Much respect to mother nature the great magic shrooms.

“Nothing like a depressant to chase the blues away.” - Lenny form The Simpsons

Quit the booze myself. Best decision I ever made and have never looked back. I listened to the audio book 'Alcohol Lied to Me' along with a hypnotherapy session by the author and it was game over. My heart genuinely goes out to people who are stuck in what seems like a never ending cycle of drink, withdrawal, drink, withdrawal. I am telling you right here right now, quit it today. It will be the best decision you ever make. It will shock you how much of your life comes back together, and then some. So many people are stuck in the captors' hut, chained to a post. It's like being in a prison cell. It's pure abuse. There is nothing quite like the feeling when you realise you are free from that jail cell. Talk about a new life! Go for it! Do it!

I drank normally for my teens and uni. The last 18 months I become an alcoholic. I’ve almost died numerous times this year. I’ve been sober 8 weeks now, trying to stay strong. I met Tubes at soccer AM and said he was an inspiration to me.

My mum is an alcoholic and it’s nice to hear people talk about it. Sadly i am too young to leave my parents and have to deal with it for a long time to come x

My dad does from alcohol poisoning when I was 13 in 2014 and addiction to alcohol is never normally shown across RU-vid (not much I’ve seen) so it’s actually nice o see someone talk about their problems like this

Never written a comment on RU-vid in my life, but as someone with a single parent who’s in a bad way with alcohol this has honestly helped me understand her condition a lot better, keep up the good work jack 👌🏼

That’s really how it happens too, a lot of shy people drink to be loud and confident and then end up relying on it

I like how when jack and steve congratulated tubes for being 2 years sober, it wasn’t patronising at all which is so rare to see, fair play

I am 4 and a half years sober. When you get to a point where you realise oh shit I'm waking up and finishing the flat beer I left after I passed out lastnight! So happy I got my life back!

Imagine not realising the "Happy" element to "Happy Hour" is satire... lol.

SHOUT THIS FROM THE ROOFTOPS! Alcohol has teared my family apart. It's an evil substance that makes people believe they can't live without it. I'm so glad you've raised the point in the podcast and would love to see more of this guy ❤️

Tubes mate, I’m 30, have been following soccer am since my teens and we are so similar! Today’s day 40 without alcohol for me! Like you, I couldnt just have one: The moment that made me stop was going home to my folks drinking two bottles of wine and half a bottle of gin and throwing up all over! Reminder I’m 30 years old ffs! That’s when i said no more! I cant just have one either! If anyone is iffy about giving up, please just try it! I’m awake earlier, i get so much done around the house, my mood is better (find myself laughing at the smallest things) you have more empathy to people, and, more money in the bank!! Good luck to anyone trying to give up: you can do it 😌😌

alcohol addiction is so rarely talked about on youtube, which is really sad. so glad they;ve touched on it.

Absolutely fantastic clip...interviewed him perfectly, let him open up. Tubes, huge respect for opening up and being as honest. Fantastic awareness for this topic, brilliant use of your platform lads!

"First you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you". F. Scott Fitzgerald

Tubes, you absolute honest legend. Total respect to you my friend.

Tubes you're a legend and well done for speaking up about this. Your mum must be very proud now 👍

So much respect for Tubes. Honest, real bloke. No one should be afraid to talk about this. Being sober is really not easy, but it’s life. Being reliant on booze is not living.

I had exactly the same problem as tubes. I drank constantly between 15 and 22 and it messed my life up. Between 23 and 28 I only drank occasionally but it was a massive binge. So at 28 I quit completely. I can completely relate to Tubes. Well done tubes for quitting. You’ve done brilliant.

My drinking habits have become closely associated with my image among those who know me. It is often a source of humour and I also plan my life around alcohol I've realised. Damn. Things like this put it into perspective.

Respect this interview, it takes huge balls to openly talk about something like this. Hopefully it helps other people in a similar situation

I gave up drink many years ago. Sober life is less complicated but it's no bed of roses in the sense that while you get so much less of the lows after it, you also give up a lot of the highs. For me I used to look forward to certain events on the beer, but in sobriety everything is fine but there's no greatest night of your life coming, perhaps a good trade off I guess.

This echoes my own life from the age of 14 to 22 in such a way it's terrifying. Alcohol is by far the most destructive drug. Top lad Tubes for not letting it overcome him

Nice to see you guys talking about the damage alcohol can do. My mum is alcohol dependent and she suffers from mental health issues and so alcohol makes them so much worse. She’s been in and out of psych wards since I was in primary school. I think the first time I had to actually stop her committing suicide I was about 11. I hate alcohol for what it did to my mum, and how it ruined my childhood. I’ve still got my mum thank goodness but unfortunately she’s still dependent on alcohol. Good one guys x

13 years sober. In 2002/3 I spent 40 grand pretty much on alcohol. Ended up with delirium tremens , which are not just shakes. You get heart seizures. You get all sorts of hallucinations , including tactile ones. I stopped cold turkey , couldn't sleep for four days. My tactile hallucination was 'the government' planting the Internet into my ear. I saw myself on the other side of the street. I listened to an entire album in my head. Be careful folks. Life is so much better without booze if it's not for you.

Fair play to George Groves for doing this . . . he was probably pissed when he was fighting Carl Froch

Seeing this a few years ago played a big part in me getting sober. I'm 2.5 years now. Tubes is a legend.

Massive respect for Tubesy!❤️

Twenty plus years of anti-depressants, anti-anxiety meds and drinking (binge drinking and hiding the massive amounts of gin in my tonics) no clue how to break the cycle until last year when a six months of living with suicidal tendencies brought it all to an end. The crisis team took control of my life and steered me onto a different course. I had my last drinking session in October and whilst I’ve not managed 100% clean, I’ve never drank more than one pint in a week. I’m blessed with friends who don’t need me to drink to socialise and I’ve not had a G&T (or indeed any alcohol) at home since October. I lost my marriage, my family, my home and I’m struggling to work my way through the darkest times but I’ve been lucky, I’m alive. Fair play to Tubes, he’s making it work, all power to his elbow. Long may it remain so.

Not big on the new intro.. Too long! Quality guest though!

Such a good interview. It is by far one of the biggest ‘kept quiet’ issues in the UK due to its social status and it’s not always alcohol itself, it’s the issues that follow it - breakups, family rows, etc. I was never what is considered a ‘huge drinker’ IE spirits, 10+ beers per day etc but when I found myself having 3-4 cans a day at some points I did get concerned for my well-being so I keep it very under wraps now. I also find it very difficult to be productive when I’m drinking, which I hate. As I was told by a wise crack a good few years back - you can’t find any answers at the bottom of a glass.

Im off the drink nearly 3 years, i was completely addicted and it was destroying me, sending me into such a deep depression that i had to do something about it, gave up and it was the best decision i ever made, fair play to you for getting off it too, it just takes will power

For me it’s the emotional triggers. And having depression and anxiety, the emotions are always scattered and sometimes impossible to grasp. The depressing thoughts are then introduced, and so the music comes on to drown it out. But then the music triggers more depression because of its relatability. What follows is not so much a voice, but a drive, a need. It’s the addiction knocking at the front door of the mind with its chains in hand. The walks to the bottle shop are the shameful ones, feeling dragged by those chains, always getting that same old look from the cashier who knows me by name and when asked if I want a brown bag I sullenly joke “yeah I’ll take a shame bag please”. I then finish a bottle or two before I get back to my house, a 5 minute walk. Other times, when I end up at the tavern (earphones jacked up to max noise) are the worst, because the addiction convinces me that I’m not lonely anymore, and that I don’t have to feel the shame of drinking by myself, but the truth is that’s the loneliest time of all. - some guy, somewhere, probably.

Well done tubes! I'm a tea total now too. I went to a festival last year totally straight and was worried I wouldn't have a good time and i was so surprised that i had a better time than before. I just remember on the Sunday feeling sorry for all the people there I felt amazing buzzing and I was totally straight! people just don't understand it's such a horrible substance and recks life's ... keep up the good work tubes!!

With alcohol itself being a depressant, it must be pure misery to be addicted to it

Respect to tubes for sorting himself and for talking about it too.

100 percent relate to this got to appreciate the mans candour and honesty

The guest selection is quality

Congrats mate I drank heavily and out of control for 11 years. 4 years sober now. Not easy but can be done and great feeling of achievement

What a likeable, honest guy Tubes is. Used to make me die laughing on Soccer AM too.

Such a taboo topic and great to hear someone speak about it. I am sober 15months now and never felt better.

Never knew tubes was an alcoholic but looking back now it makes total sense

Happy to say that I haven’t touched alcohol for 18 months. I don’t plan on drinking ever again

I have been sober 5 yrs,I lived in a part of town with 14 pubs 3 to a street.Daily drinking was normal.I could count up to 10 customers who have died, younger than me.This and crucifying hangovers daily, decided for me to quit.From my experience it took 6 to 8 weeks to dry out physically and mentally, however the benefits are your mind grows,my money grows.I feel at ease 24hrs. Awakening sober alert to a new day.You dont need drink for a happy life.

Planning your life around drinking......that’s when you woke up. It becomes part of your routine and you look forward to it like a holiday or a trip out. I know so many people who knock off work early on a Friday and they are then they drink until Sunday lunchtime. Then they sober up for Monday.....repeat ad nauseum.

Nearly a year sober for me. 1 is too many, 1000 aint enough.

I’m reminded of the quote from Saint Augustine: ‘Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation.’ Truly said.

Massive respect to Tubes for opening up. I myself have suffered from alcoholism in the past. On 3 occasions I have ended up hospitalised due to alcohol poisoning and overdosing. It’s usually something tragic in your lifetime that can push you over the edge. I battled with drink problems for almost 6 years. Very near killed me. I respect anyone who has the courage to open up about the demons of their past with alcohol. It can be a horrible thing to fight a battle with.

Used to sit near him at Stamford Bridge, top man

Don’t like the new intro I liked it short and snappy

Big respect for Tubes for being so honest, I am sure he is leaving parts of what happened out but I like the guy more for havings the balls to confront and tell people.

This part of the hour wasn't so happy

I met tubes last april in portugal. I was on a stag do and he was such a nice decent guys its unreal!! Fair play to him@@

I liked the old design

I've just come to this realisation myself after hitting rock bottom. I was drinking pretty much every day because I made the connection that I was a happier and more confident person when I drank. As well as the addiction to the alcohol, there was also the addiction to the feeling that I get when I drink it - like I was chasing a high that I couldn’t naturally get to. My body would shake, my head would be pounding - I felt like I was somebody else; barely conscious of my own existence. I broke my pint glass the other day and with no regard for my own safety, I picked the broken shards of glass up with my bare hands; risking myself a serious injury because I was too drunk to recognise that this was a dangerous situation. I also work in a school and there were children from my school that would see me drunk (often during the day when I went to go and watch my local football team) and I just felt so ashamed of myself. I think there is far too much judgement in social situations towards people who don't drink and that definitely helps contribute to the normalisation of drinking culture. If more people felt confident enough to say "Do you know what? I don't want to have drink, thanks." then maybe that would help save a lot of people and make them more confident to say no. I wish everyone who is going through a similar issue the best of luck with it and I hope you come out clean on the other side.

this was really interesting to listen to, absolutely love these podcasts

Can’t wait for the full version to come out, what a class guest to have

Really interesting to hear this. Tubes is such a lovely guy that we all love hope he is doing well

Just got talked down from a bridge last night after going on an 11 hour binge. I'm not even suicidal. Alcohol poisons your mind so much. Its an addiction that's eventually can get so bad you lose everything. Your morals, friends, family, job, money, partners. I've woken up on the street soaked in my own piss and I went out drinking the next day. That's the power of alcohol. Anyway time to get busy living or get Busy dieing. Good luck to everyone battling this

Speaking from my experience I operate far more efficiently with alcohol out of my life. All the dramas all the negative stuff, losing things, fights, arrested, losing jobs etc all came drunk. I only ever hung my head in shame when booze was involved. My problem is that it does help calm my anxiety down after a hard week it’s easy and does help. Recently not had a drink for nearly 9 weeks and shat out of doing a course for work just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I let my boss know and said I needed little bit time to get ready for it. He understood, ok I was scared to do the training but was open and honest and the next day when I seen him there was no scared feeling of alcohol having been anywhere involved which was a nice change. Got to deal with stuff without using a problem to solve a problem. Alcohol is a good thing but it is a constant it doesn’t change it will maximise your mood so you need to be happy first, and have your life in order. All the best to Tubes he’s put a line in the sand and went up against a big fear.

The minute you start planning your life around booze is a big sign and it's when the slippery slope starts.

Chelsea Boy with a terrific sense of humour!!!!! Tubes/Peter? Love you bruv, best a luck in the future,B Lucky!!!!!

I had no idea! Massive well done on your sobriety my brother. You carry a great message for a lot of young lads out there. Tuuuubesss

What is that intro

Top man, never easy to admit to yourself that you have a problem.

Jesus... You really don't know peoples story do you? He was just this funny, chubby character on soccer AM who used to rap and get the mickey taken out of him. Good old Tubes, he's got good banter etc. meanwhile he's in a dark place, drinking his life away, making himself very ill and destroying his life. Passing out like that in the day at a train station and then having a heart attack after everything started looking up. Wow, so glad he's doing well now though and wish him all the best in staying sober. Good luck bro

Currently on day 98 of no booze. Hitting the gym every day and Cafe Nero are my new addictions.

He's starting to look like a long lost Redknapp

This was a fascinating talk. Well done on Tubes for speaking out about this 👏🏻

Such refreshing honesty and insight! Fair play Tubes 👏👏

I am LITERALLY in the same boat Tubes. Been clean and sober 10yrs on NYE.. I's so hard because it's so accessible. Congratulations mate,Paul, Manchester.

Never ever knew he went through this. What a top guy he is. And we’ll done to him for turning it around.

It's so clear that some people are just born with an addictive personality, and it's therefore all or nothing. It makes me realise how lucky I am to be able to have a drink with mates without it really affecting my life, especially in the UK where there is a big drinking culture. Fair play to Tubes for being so honest

i feel like its easier to get off an addiction as a kid because u have so much to do to take ur mind off it

I’m going through that stage of I need it to feel myself. I know how it feels. Proud of you!

18 months sober, I was drinking from the moment I woke up till sleep. Vodka. Nasty stuff.

Just now came across this. Proud to be 2 months sober. I started to plan on when to drink like he said and during covid I drank a lot by myself even though I was playing cod online with friends. Months prior I started having anxiety issues and I didn't want to blame alcohol because I loved drinking. Towards the end of 2020 I started having some scary and dark things pop into my mind randomly days after a weekend binge and I realized I was becoming depressed. On Valentines day 2021 I had my last drink and after a few days of some more of those scary thoughts I sad fuck this and poured every bit of alcohol down the sink. I still love non-alcoholic beer that specifically has 0% (not that 0.5% bullshit) alcohol and I feel my mind and anxiety have been healing. I am much happier now and I look forward to an alcohol-free life.

Big up Tubes, glad you’re ok.

Tubes. Such a lovely man.

Cheers for the honesty, makes me and I'm guessing loads of others feel better about coping with the same problem

I seen tubes in reading festival about 12 years ago, I was like I know him from somewhere, I didnt realise it was him till he was too far into the crowd lol

"once I have one I can't stop". yes tubesy lad on the perks

Thanx Tubes for talking about this subject ❤

Your name's Tubes, You've got the gift of the gab, Hectic lyrics - you made celebrities laugh, One of kind - uniquely unique, Conquered the drink - two and half years sober, Long live Tubes, you're a top geezer, But all I want to know is.... Who was your favourite soccer am presenter?

"Don't give him a sherry,Father!"

im pretty sure jacks's mum is/was an alcoholic so this probably hit home a bit for him

Quit drinking on 26th of December 2018. Best decision I ever made. Smashed the drink and drugs all through my teens and 20s and was always a good laugh but towards the end the dumb shit that I once thought was funny just made me feel stupid. Like getting into a fight or being sick in an alley, or blacking out and waking up at some girls house with no idea how I got there. Plus everyone around me was having kids and get married and I was still living the for the weekend. Stopping drinking is easy, it's the journey of self discovery after that is hard to deal with, good luck to anyone on this path though

I've been in addiction for years and now 2 years clean and sober. I work in a detox centre and I've never seen how bad alcohol can get to you. My addiction was mostly drugs though addiction is addiction know matter what it is. All as I can say is as long as your still breathing you can do this,beleave me it's not easy though with the help of light minded people like ourselves and one day at a time we can all live a beautiful life.🙏🙏

Great guest. Well played 👍

This is one of my favourites. It is really interesting coming from someone who has experienced it

im struggling right now guys im about 5 days sober and its not easy at all.

i'm coming up on 5 years sober myself, it's an awful existence when your whole life revolves around where your next drink is coming from, it's the last thing you think about when you're going to bed and the first thing you think about in the morning.

Tee total about 11 years now me. But i do remember what it was like. I would wake up at 6 am everyday and start drinking. If i did not hav e a drink i would shake that badly i could not even speak a full sentence. It felt like my brain was seizing up.

great listen lads, hope you can upload this whole podcast onto youtube.

So inspiring to see people wgi have come through the worst of it and come out well on the other side. We're all so much better for it and we have so many lessons for everybody around us. Good on him!!

Fair play tubes! Tonnes of respect for people like you who share their stories in the media, creating awareness and getting rid of the stigma. Im at the point where Im ready to make that phone call myself, as your story is identical to the way I am. Respect!