A recovering alcoholic has launched the first programme focused on dangerous drinking among North Sea oil workers.
Former driller, Alister MacKinnon, 66, admits he was an alcoholic by the age of 18.
He said: “I started work as a fisherman at just 14 and in that job you were paid at the bar.
“After that I went on to work as a driller in the oil industry for 30 years.
“During that time I drank heavily and even developed cirrhosis of the liver.
“I was out of control and waiting for the bar to open at 6am.
“Eventually doctors told me if I carried on drinking, I had two years to live.”
Following his experiences, Alister has now launched The North Sea Garden Mission – the first programme aimed at raising alcohol awareness among offshore workers.
Alister now travels offshore to speak to workers and share his story, warning them about the dangers of drinking too much.
He also offers one-to-one chats for people when they come back home.
He said: “The lifestyle of working offshore, being away working for so long then off for two or three weeks, means many without a family to come back to, you have nothing to do but drink.
“Many workers have a drink problem as well as a lot of debt, especially since the downturn.
“Part of my programme is showing the guys offshore the damage drink does to your body.
“I show them the way it affects your liver, kidneys, prostate, nervous system, pancreas, brain, heart, everything really.
“The other part is sharing my personal story with them, and showing them that you have to be proactive, you have to fill your free time in a better way and keep busy.
“Because being offshore is the worst place to be if you have problems, let alone a drink problem.”
Alister finances a large part of the project himself and says it’s his way of giving back after 30 years in the industry.
He added: “I hope my work will be seen as an asset to the North Sea one day.”
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