06:00, 04 July 2024
Words by John Moylan, Staff Writer, London
It’s Alcohol Awareness Week, and we’re talking about the effect that alcohol can have on our lives. While drinking can be fun in a social setting, it’s important to know your limits - and to be aware of how we can rely on alcohol, sometimes without even realising it.
To learn more about how alcoholism can impact you, and those around you, Smiley News spoke with Calum Best. Calum is a TV personality, an entrepreneur and a patron of NACOA - the National Association for Children of Alcoholics.
Calum tells Smiley News: “You don't realise how it affects you when you're in it until you look back in. The craziest part is, all these years, I am still sensitive about how I speak about it.”
Calum’s father, George Best, was a Northern Irish professional football player, widely considered one of the most talented players of all time. In his adult life, he also suffered from alcoholism.
“I'm a fan of my old man; I love him to bits, proud of him to bits,” adds Calum. “But there's a different side and a bigger picture. I was the son of an alcoholic, and 2.6 million kids in the UK are going through the same thing. They have no idea where to turn, what to do or how to find help.”
Today, Calum uses his profile to help raise awareness of how alcoholism can impact children and families - and what we need to do to help them.
That’s why he is such a dedicated supporter of NACOA. NACOA has four main aims; to offer support for children affected by a parent’s drinking, to reach professionals who work with them, and to raise awareness and promote research into the problems faced by the children of alcoholics.
“In my youth, I didn't really know the issues my dad was dealing with,” admits Calum. “But as I started to get into my teens, I realized that he was struggling. There'd be great days … and there'd be some pretty dark days.”
Calum says: “When you start seeing the dependency, [even] at a young age …you realize, okay, something's going on.”
In his interview with Smiley News, Calum opens up about some of the problems he faced due to his father’s alcoholism. He speaks about being left in a hotel alone as a child, arguments out of the blue, and how it has taken time for him to process these experiences.
“I'm not putting him down, because what I've learned is that when alcohol is that strong and they're dependent on it … that thing will [guide] them differently,” Calum explains. “Any logic, any common sense, any sanity goes when you are consumed; especially a hardcore drinker that is alcohol dependent.”
Calum’s own experiences with his father are part of the driving force behind his commitment to NACOA. He has been where so many other children are today, and he wants to help them to find their way out - to find the help that they need.
“That's why we make as much noise as we can with NACOA because we want kids to know they're not alone,” he says. “They have a place to turn to find these answers of why the relationship is all screwed up. That's something we pride ourselves in.”
Calum’s ability to talk about his father’s addiction didn’t happen overnight. It has taken a long time for him to process his relationship with George, and come out the other side - and much of that has come from his work with NACOA.
Calum is living proof that helping others can be healing, and that, if you reach a place where you are comfortable with sharing your journey, it can be an incredible tool in helping others.
“It's been an incredible journey,” says Calum. “I'm a proud patron of NACOA.”
If you, or someone you know, has been affected by a parent’s relationship with alcohol, you can find the help you need on the NACOA website.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Alcohol Change UK. This charity works for a society that is free from the harm caused by alcohol. Support them here.
Nacoa UK. They help the 1 in 5 people in the UK affected by a parent's drinking. Find out more.
We Are With You. This is a charity that offers free, confidential support to people in England and Scotland who have challenges with drugs, alcohol or mental health. Learn more here.
