TWO DECADES SOBER AND PROUD!

Writer Monica Cafferky, 53, says life is better without alcohol

- MONICA CAFFERKY

As my friend passed me the bottle of cider, I took a swig and fell back onto the grass of the playing fields, gazing up to the sky. The stars seemed to be swimming. I was 14 and it was my first time drinking. I loved feeling all my teenage troubles melting away and within a year, I was getting blind drunk every weekend. Back then, it wasn't hard to get booze from the offlicence even though I was underage. My friends and I wore make-up to look older and took turns buying vodka or cider.

TEENAGE ANTICS