CARLY THOMPSETT

drinking from a young age. My late grandfather used to drink all the time and would reek of the stuff.

I remember on one occasion when I went to visit him, he asked for a hug and I said “No” because he stunk of booze.

He became really nasty and started calling me names, so eventually my mum and dad had enough and we left. After that he drunk-dialled our house every day for two weeks saying that he hated me.

I was only nine-years old at the time and while he probably never remembered the incident, I never forgot it.

Like most teenagers I experimented with alcopops and in my 20s I tried vodka and whisky but I never liked the taste.

Once I passed my driving test my friends barely even noticed I didn’t drink because I was always the designated driver, which was fine until they started getting out of control. Then, I just ended up being their babysitter, which ruined my night.

Eventually, I decided to stop giving lifts and told them to get taxis.

As I’ve got older I’ve noticed that there’s a constant pressure by strangers to have a drink. I regularly go to events where I’m offered a glass of wine. When I decline they say, “Go on, one drink won’t hurt you” and won’t take no for an answer. In the end I’ll pretend to take it and then put it down somewhere else.

People always ask how I can have fun without alcohol but I don’t need a drink to enjoy myself. Every Christmas it’s our family’s tradition to have a glass of Babycham and that’s enough for me.”