London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Alcoholic dad stopped drinking after finding shocking selfie

Alcoholic dad stopped drinking after finding shocking selfie

Gene Davies, 47, struggled with alcoholism for decades - but one picture made him quit for good.
A former alcoholic says one selfie was all it took for him to finally commit to giving up drinking.

Gene Davies, 47, struggled with alcoholism for decades, with his addiction costing him numerous jobs and relationships.

The pot washer – who used to drink a bottle and a half of whiskey a day – says his addiction even led to the breakdown of his marriage.

However, a picture he took after a dangerous incident spurred him to reach out for help and he has now been sober for 18 months.

Gene says his drink problem started when he was a teenager playing drums in a band called Silent Runner with Kelly Jones from Stereophonics who is his cousin.

He said: ‘I’m not blaming rock and roll – I was a willing participant.

‘But it was definitely where my drink problem started.

‘We were only about 14 or 15 at the time and already playing pubs and workingmen’s clubs.

‘And this was the Valleys in the ’80s, by the way.

‘It was easy to get served if you were underage back then – lots of blind eyes were turned if we wanted to grab a crafty flagon of lager.’

After joining the band, the teenager spent most of his time ‘being the showman, trying to make people laugh’ during which time his ‘boozing increased exponentially’.

After being thrown out of university in Bath for non-attendance, Gene made his way through a series of odd jobs, including dish washing and catering.

However, he was fired from most of them after ‘sneaking in cans and disappearing down the pub during my breaks to throw more pints down my neck’.

After moving back to Wales in 2003, he attempted to hide his drinking problem from his parents by stashing bottles in the house and going for long ‘walks’.

At his lowest point, he found himself sucking up the remnants of a spilled beer with a straw from a pub floor.

He said: ‘While we were in there someone spilled their beer and I decided to take a straw, get down on my knees and suck the remnants of it from the dirtiest, mankiest pub carpet you’ve every seen.

‘And this was despite already having a full pint waiting for me on the bar.

‘Isn’t that the most disgusting thing you’ve ever heard?’

After meeting his wife Vicky at a party in 2010, they had a son called Joe in 2015.

It was at this point that Gene cut down on drinking – but he couldn’t give it up altogether.

He said: ‘I became a nasty drunk – not in the physical sense, just a sharp tongue – and that contributed to my marriage eventually breaking down.’
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×