'I loved booze more than my fiancé'

Sarah Pearson spent over a decade in a relationship with alcohol here she tells us what it took for her to break it off and save her life

- JOAN MCFADDEN

In the run-up to Valentine’s Day 2017, Sarah Pearson, now 45, decided to book a week away. But this wasn’t a luxury spa break or a romantic getaway for two – it was a trip she hoped would change her life forever.

My fiancé Martin and I had been happy together for five years, but my worsening drinking caused us serious problems and eventually ruined our relationship.

I’d had an unhealthy love of alcohol for most of my adult life. I was the one who’d drink the most, stay out the longest and wanted to do it all again the next day, however unwell I felt. Our wedding plans were falling apart. Simply put, I loved booze more than the man I was going to marry.

Martin knew it too. I was drinking too much and although he had tried to support me to cut down, I just couldn’t. I loved him and wanted to be his wife but I started hiding alcohol, feeling like I wasn’t ready to give it up.

I hid white wine, and eventually spirits, in water bottles in my wardrobe, and even while Martin was in the house I’d sneak off for a few sips.

I was drinking up to two bottles of wine a night, but we both somehow believed that getting married might “fix” me.

My drinking only escalated with the stress of wedding planning and my hen do was the final straw. I ended up really drunk in front of our families and friends. I was drinking vodka from a bottle in my bag and became unwell very quickly. People couldn’t understand as collectively we’d been drinking steadily but not excessively – so they searched my bag.