
When someone says their father was or is an alcoholic, the first thing that springs to mind for most people is violence, yelling, and abuse.
My own father was, and still is an alcoholic, and is no longer a part of my life. Although he was never violent, his alcoholism still deeply affected and damaged our family, and me.
When I was younger, probably through to my teens, I thought all the dads drank beer every day. I thought all dads drank a lot of beer, got paid by mates for work in slabs of VB, and drove with an open can of beer between their legs and another cold one under the seat.

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If I was in the car with him, I’d feel pretty special that he’d let me hold his beer while he changed gears – and even take a cheeky sip!