Hidden drinking epidemic among middle-classes of Tayside and Fife

“I’ve had a bad day, I’ll have a gin and tonic.”

That’s the mindset of a growing group of middle-class drinkers in Tayside and Fife who are sleepwalking into alcoholism, a charity has warned.

Trish Allan of SMART Recovery revealed that lawyers, business owners and other middle-class professionals have become clients of the Fife-based support network over the last few years.

The warning comes ahead of a special Courier investigation which will uncover the full extent of alcoholism among the more affluent sections of society in our local area.

We speak to the former civil servant who had to undergo a liver transplant after her drinking took over her life.

An official report shows how many businesswomen are now drinking to excess to fit in with the culture of their male counterparts and we find how the ‘90s generation of binge-drinkers have become middle-class alcoholics.

Analysing wine club deals, our reporter finds out just how cheap a bottle of wine can be and we hear from the Fife bank worker who came out the other side after excessive drinking ruined her life and relationships.

For our full investigation pick up Wednesday and Thursday’s editions of The Courier.