Alcohol stole everything from my dad - then took him from me on Christmas Eve. That's why I'll be sober on Christmas Day... just like I have been for the past 20 years: RUTH SUNDERLAND

Alcohol was once as essential a part of my Christmas as the fragrance of the fir tree, the crackle of wrapping paper and the aromas wafting in from the kitchen. Alan was highly intelligent with a ferocious work ethic, but fell into drinking after losing his job when the local steelworks shut Ruth gave up drink after witnessing the damage it did to her father - he died in his early 60s on Christmas Eve in 1995 - and realising 'a life without booze would be a life-enhancing choice' Twenty years ago, when I decided to be sober, it felt as though I was fighting back on his behalf against all the despair and pain. Dad never talked about how he felt – that would have been at odds with his traditional view that men dealt with their troubles on their own, and didn't bother other people with their difficulties. Christmas was really like any other day with Dad – he would be drinking constantly and Mum would be working extra hard to create a perfect Christmas, regardless. Looking back now, I can see Dad was suffering from depression and needed help, but none of us recognised that at the time – it wasn't part of the vocabulary in Teesside back then.