On very dangerous ground.

[Redmayne]

Yesterday evening BBC television, showed a programme on their ,'Panorama' programme, decidated to current events and social affairs, presented by Alistair Campbell, famed for being the former Prime Ministers, Tony Blair's, 'spin doctor' titled,'Britain's Hidden Alcoholics', made apparently to highlight the fact that with nearly 9,000 people dying a year from alcohol-related diseases. Campbell, himself a much publicised, 'recovering alcoholic' met some of Britains increasing number of Britain's professional's who, on their own admission see themselves, with good cause, as alcoholics.

On reflection I just didn't see the point of the programme, other than the presenters own self agrandisement..

No surprise then, towards the end ofthe programme, whilst sharing with a bunch of these professionals, now ,'in recovery' sitting in luxurious surroundings in a very expensive rehab, facility, he admitted that he now, despite the advice of the psychologist who still treats him for depression, no surprises there, that he should continue with abstaining from alcohol. He likes, on occasions to have a couple of glasses of wine, just to experience the feeling of control he has over alcohol??? Eh???

One of the first things I learned, when I first went to AA, way 'back in the day', some thirty years ago, from the guy who took me to my first meeting was this little Chinese saying,

'First the man takes a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes the man'

I've seen nothing in my thirty years drinking and now four years in recovery, five days just gone, to disprove that saying. It seems that here was a man just trying to put a 'spin' on his own recovery using the same means as he did in his journalistic and political career, e.g. the media, and in my view, on very dangerous ground.

If the programme had any credibility at all, it made the point that Campbell was on very dangerous ground and seemed to have learned nothing in recovery about, anonyminity, ridding one self of self will and ego, through making spiritual progress but everything about how to return to being a full blown alcoholic.

'Live and let live' is a saying familiar to us all from the BB, to which I'd simply add, but live!

[heath480]

I watched the programme and was very disappointed,nothing in it new at all.I doubt it will encourage anyone to look at their drinking.He interviewed Anne Robinson,that could have been far better,her Autobiography describes her descent into Alcoholism so well,I read it whilst still drinking,I credit her with my deciding to give AA a go.

Alistair Campbell clearly hasnt taken on board once an Alcoholic always an Alcoholic,he has started drinking again! Shows me the denial and what a bad message to be giving out.

[DarkDays]

I thought the programme was so lame, like it was scared to reveal the real horrific alcohell crisis that is engulfing the uk. I mean Mr Campbell trying to say he was now kinda of in control of his drinking was hate to say it funny , and the same ole rhetoric we have heard hundreds of times before.

[Redmayne]

Thank you for both your replies, equally constructive and articulate, the phrase,'papering over the cracks', in reference to Campbells lurking egotism comes into mind, along with the fact that Anne Robinson's book,'An unfit mother' is not only a brilliant read, but a compelling true story of her descent in to alcoholism.

Notably, the only mention of anything akin to what we'd recognise in identify with of content in the programme, which struck a chord with me, was when the woman at the rehabilitation facility said that her alcoholism had bankrupted her spiritually and physically.

The complete lack of any content resembling anything else of a similar nature made me recall that one of Campbells famous quotes at a time he was in Tony Blair's employ, when pressed by journalists in regard to Blair's religious beliefs, he replied,'We don't do god!' Oh, well, that'll be ok then. Not much room for the god of anyone's understanding, either then or now.

What happened, if he was ever aware of it to the 12th Tradition, 'Principles, before personalities', particularly as regards the content of the programme, like his?

[Redmayne]

I suppose, in summary, rather than expose Britains Hidden Alcoholics, given what I've learned over the years, both in my drinking days and now in recovery, having regard to all the circumstances, it simply portrayed the presenter,m Alistair Campbell as a 'dry drunk' evidenced by his own admission of his drinking, flying in the face of his psychologists advice not to. In my experience, seen in others, this is very danerous ground, indeed, I certainly couldn't and don't know of any others who could, not only get sober, but stay sober, without turning my life and will over to the ,'god of my understanding'.

May be he can, and will remain so, in order to tell us all about it on another programme?