Brought Up By Booze
Introduction
Calum Best, the son of football legend George Best, opens up about what it was like growing up with an alcoholic parent in the BBC Children in Need documentary Brought Up By Booze. Known for his father’s legacy on the field, Calum shares a more personal side of his life—one shaped by addiction, instability, and the lasting impact it had on him as a child.
Throughout the film, Calum meets some of the 1.3 million children in the UK affected by parental alcoholism, connecting with young people who have faced similar experiences. As he listens to their stories, he also reflects on his own childhood and the ways his father’s addiction continues to influence his life today. His journey takes him across the country, where he meets individuals determined to break the cycle despite the challenges they’ve faced.
Brought Up By Booze offers an honest and emotional look at the impact alcohol can have on families, especially children who are often left to cope on their own. As Calum confronts his past, the documentary highlights both the pain of growing up in that environment and the strength it takes to move forward.
Featured in Brought Up By Booze:
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Quotes
“Thinking about growing up, one of my strongest memories was coming to Manchester with dad when I was 11. We stayed here at my dad’s favourite hotel. Coming back, I’m reminded of how unpredictable and confusing being around an alcoholic can really be … I was left overnight not knowing where my dad had gone.”
“Understanding what adults do when they’re drunk is tough when you’re a kid. The girls I’m meeting at London Zoo have all had an alcoholic parent or relative. They have support through a self-help group called Alateen.”
“As soon as I started to get older, I was going to friends’ houses and I’d see that none of them were making their own dinner. None of them were making sure that their mom or dad was in from the pub and in bed or somewhere safe. I think it started to click with me then that there’s something wrong, but because I idolized my dad, I didn’t want to admit it.”
"Early on I found out there was a problem. I knew something was wrong but I didn’t know what it was called. I knew it was the drinking, but I didn’t know it was called 'alcoholic’."
“I actually walked into my mom’s room and found about 20-30 empty bottles of vodka just laying across the side of the bed. It scared me because I thought, how can anyone drink that much?“
“You say ‘Dont let me drink’, but what can I do? I am a child so I depend on you. You can only stop yourself, so what can I do? I’m sorry now I can’t help you, I don’t know how to. You say ‘Don’t let me drink’, but what can I do?”
“It’s still hard for me to accept that alcohol took my father’s life. But some children have to say goodbye while their parents are still alive. Danielle is getting married next year but her mother won’t be there. Her mother’s drinking got out of control when Danielle was just 11 and she still drinks heavily today.”
“Over half of the people here will have children at home who have been directly affected by their addiction. For every one person addicted there’s going to be at least 3-4 people connected to them who are affected by addiction on very much the same levels as the addict.”
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Brenda H.
BA Psych, Grad. Cert. Addictions & Mental Health
Driven by a deep personal connection to these topics, I created AMH Resources to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and everyday support. I watch, read, and summarize a wide range of free resources to help you navigate the overwhelming amount of information available and find what resonates with your journey.