New Delhi:
A former alcoholic has now been sober for 18 months after he saw himself in a selfie. 47-year-old Gene Davis, of Cwmaman, Wales, had battled with alcoholism for decades at the expense of his life costing him multiple jobs, and relationships. A day to throw away the bottle all together arose when a picture he took after a dangerous incident spurred him to reach out for help and deciding to quit drinking altogether.
Gene, who recalls that his drinking habit started during his rock and roll days narrates, ‘I’m not blaming rock and roll – I was a willing participant. ‘But it was definitely where my drink problem started.
‘We were only about 14 or 15 at the time and already playing pubs and workingmen’s clubs.
After joining the band, the Gene, then a teenager spent most of his time ‘being the showman, trying to make people laugh’ during which time his ‘boozing increased exponentially’. He then went on to try his hands-on odd jobs but was fired time and time again. His breaking point came when he found himself sucking up the remnants of a spilled beer with a straw from a pub floor.
‘While we were in there someone spilled their beer and I decided to take a straw, get down on my knees and suck the remnants of it from the dirtiest, mankiest pub carpet you’ve every seen.
‘And this was despite already having a full pint waiting for me on the bar. ‘Isn’t that the most disgusting thing you’ve ever heard?’
After meeting his wife Vicky at a party in 2010, they had a son called Joe in 2015. He once again decided to cut down on the drinking but failed after which he was kicked out of the family home and had to stay in a friend’s house where during an accident from a bunk bed led him to quit alcohol for good.
‘But, when I saw the blood, lifted up my hair and a big flap of skin came with it, I realised I’d partially scalped myself and could actually see my skull.
‘I remember thinking, ‘Nope, it’s the hospital for you, pal’.’
The next morning, the former alcoholic was looking at a selfie of his injuries from the night before that led him to say enough is enough.
‘I’ve not touched a drop since – that was 18 months ago. ‘I now work washing pots and preparing veg in a local Indian restaurant – basic stuff but there’s no stress, just the way I like it.
‘Now Joe is my rock and my number one fan and he helps me keep it together’ the now sober Gene says.
