Alcoholism is a complex and devastating disease, and its causes are not easily pinned down. While cultural factors, such as Scotland’s historical relationship with drinking, and socioeconomic challenges like poverty can contribute to alcohol abuse, the reality is far more intricate. Genetic predisposition, mental health struggles, trauma, and social pressures all play roles, but no single factor fully explains why someone develops alcoholism.
What is clear, however, is that this disease does not discriminate—it affects people from every corner of society, whether they are rich, famous, intelligent, or athletic. The following list of historical and recent figures, including those with ties to Scotland, the UK, and Ireland, illustrates how alcoholism can touch anyone, regardless of status or success.
For families and friends of Scottish alcoholics, these stories serve as a reminder that you are not alone in your struggles. Recognizing that even the most celebrated individuals have faced this battle can foster empathy and encourage seeking help through resources like NHS Scotland’s Alcohol Care Teams or Alcoholics Anonymous.
Famous Alcoholics: Historical and Recent
Alexander the Great
Ancient sources describe heavy drinking and binge episodes late in life; exact diagnosis is unknowable.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (age 32); causes debated by historians.
Amy Winehouse
Public struggle amid fame and mental health issues; multiple attempts to recover.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (2011); alcohol poisoning recorded at inquest.
Anthony Hopkins
Has said alcohol nearly cost him his career in the 1970s.
Outcome / Status: Sober since 1975; advocate for recovery.
Ben Affleck
Has spoken about alcohol problems, treatment, and relapse risk.
Outcome / Status: Ongoing recovery with therapy and support.
Benjamin Franklin
Drank heavily in youth by his own accounts; later advocated moderation.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1790); lived with health issues including gout.
Betty Ford
Spoke openly about alcoholism and prescription drug dependence as First Lady.
Outcome / Status: Achieved sobriety; founded the Betty Ford Center (now deceased).
Billie Holiday
Alcohol and other substances intertwined with health and legal struggles.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1959); alcohol-related complications.
Billy Connolly
Talked about heavy drinking in early career and why he quit.
Outcome / Status: Sober; long successful career.
Bradley Cooper
Has said early alcohol use risked career and health.
Outcome / Status: Sober since 2004.
Brendan Behan
Irish writer whose drinking shaped both life and work.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1964); alcohol-related complications.
Brian Clough
Celebrated football manager with a long, public struggle with alcohol.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (2004).
Buzz Aldrin
Turned to heavy drinking to cope with post-Apollo fame and depression.
Outcome / Status: Achieved sobriety through support groups; mental health advocate.
Charles Bukowski
Wrote candidly about heavy drinking and its costs.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1994).
Charles Dickens
Biographies describe periods of heavy drinking and related health strain.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1870).
Christopher Hitchens
Wrote and spoke publicly about long-term heavy drinking.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (2011).
Colin Farrell
Has spoken about blackouts and erratic behaviour earlier in career.
Outcome / Status: Sustained sobriety following rehab.
Daniel Radcliffe
Stopped after recognising unhealthy patterns linked to fame.
Outcome / Status: Sober since 2010.
Dorothy Parker
Sustained alcoholism across adult life; wrote about despair and attempts to stop.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1967).
Drew Barrymore
Began drinking very young; multiple treatment attempts as a teen.
Outcome / Status: Sober in adult life; stable career and family.
Dylan Thomas
Mythologised heavy drinking; serious illness and hospitalisations late in life.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1953); alcohol-related complications/mismanagement.
Elizabeth Taylor
Alcohol problems in the 1970s–80s; sought treatment.
Outcome / Status: Entered recovery; later advocacy (now deceased).
Elton John
Years of alcohol and cocaine use tied to pressure and loneliness.
Outcome / Status: Sober since 1990.
Elvis Presley
Heavy drinking and prescription drug use in the 1970s.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1977); complications from substance use.
Eric Clapton
Alcoholism and addiction led to health and career crises.
Outcome / Status: Recovery after multiple treatments; founded a treatment centre.
Ernest Hemingway
Heavy drinking for decades; mounting mental health concerns late in life.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1961).
Ewan McGregor
Has said drinking became unmanageable in his 20s–30s.
Outcome / Status: Sober; credits change with transforming life and work.
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Destructive drinking in the 1930s; hospitalisations and career damage.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1940); heart issues with alcohol a factor.
George Best
Long, public struggle; legal issues and severe liver disease.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (2005); complications after transplant.
Hunter S. Thompson
Notorious heavy drinking alongside other substances; central to his persona and writing.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (2005).
Jackson Pollock
Chronic alcoholism; erratic behaviour; relationship strain.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1956); drink-related car crash.
Jamie Lee Curtis
Has described hiding addiction (alcohol and opioids) despite success.
Outcome / Status: Sober since 1999.
Jeffrey Bernard
Soho columnist who wrote bluntly about alcoholism’s effects.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1997); alcohol-related complications.
John Cheever
Alcoholism strained family and career; multiple treatments.
Outcome / Status: Found sobriety in later life (now deceased).
Judy Garland
Alcohol (and drugs) contributed to severe health and career problems.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1969).
Kingsley Amis
Wrote often about drink; biographies describe heavy long-term alcohol use.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1995).
Lindsay Lohan
Legal and career problems linked to alcohol and drugs.
Outcome / Status: Recent years show progress with sobriety.
Mel Gibson
Public alcohol-related incidents damaged reputation.
Outcome / Status: Periods of sobriety; relapse risk acknowledged.
Mickey Mantle
Heavy drinking led to liver disease and family strain.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1995); alcohol-related liver cancer.
Mozart
Drinking noted in some accounts; exact medical picture uncertain.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1791); causes debated.
Oliver Reed
Notorious heavy drinker; frequent public incidents.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1999); heart attack while drinking.
Paul Gascoigne
Decades-long struggle; multiple treatments, relapses, and returns to care.
Outcome / Status: Continuing to seek help; recovery work ongoing.
Paul Merson
Has discussed alcohol and other addictions; open about recovery efforts.
Outcome / Status: Ongoing recovery focus.
Peter Cook
Brilliant satirist whose heavy drinking hurt health and work late in life.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1995).
Peter O’Toole
Renowned for hard drinking; serious health crises forced change.
Outcome / Status: Stopped due to health; lived until 2013.
Richard Burton
Chronic alcohol use damaged health and major roles.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1984); alcohol-related complications.
Richard Harris
Irish actor known for heavy drinking; health affected later in life.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (2002).
Robert Downey Jr.
Alcohol and drugs nearly ended career; legal consequences.
Outcome / Status: Sober since early 2000s; major career revival.
Robin Williams
Periods of long sobriety with relapse; spoke about depression and addiction.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (2014).
Shane MacGowan
Lifelong alcohol and drug use shaped his music and health.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (2023).
Sigmund Freud
Used cocaine in early career; reports of alcohol use exist but are secondary in biographies.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1939).
Stephen King
Has said alcohol (and other drugs) nearly consumed the 1980s.
Outcome / Status: Entered recovery; long-term sobriety.
Tennessee Williams
Drinking exacerbated mental health issues and strained relationships.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1983).
Tony Adams
Admitted alcoholism in the 1990s; legal consequences included prison.
Outcome / Status: Sober since 1996; founded Sporting Chance.
Truman Capote
Alcohol and drugs led to isolation and career decline.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1984); alcohol-related complications.
Ulysses S. Grant
Documented episodes of heavy drinking under stress; historians debate clinical labels.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1885).
Winston Churchill
Famous for daily drinking; often cited as high-functioning.
Outcome / Status: Deceased (1965).
Zac Efron
Has spoken about isolation and health issues tied to alcohol in his 20s.
Outcome / Status: Sober since 2013.
Why share these names? Not to glamorise or shame — only to show how widespread alcohol problems are and how common recovery is. If you or someone you love in Scotland is struggling, speak to your GP, contact your local ADP/Community Addiction Team, try AA or SMART, or call Drinkline Scotland (0800 7314 314). In an emergency, call 999; for urgent medical advice, NHS 24 on 111.
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