Who?

I'm Jen - history lecturer, and Yorkshire lass temporarily exiled in the south.

What?

A year (1 June 2017 to 1 June 2018) of no alcohol of any kind. I've called this challenge #OneYearNoBeer because forgoing those occasional pints is going to be the hardest part for me: beautiful dark London porter, that gorgeous peach-flavoured Badger beer, bitter shandy in the height of summer...

I'll also be regularly reflecting on #OneYearNoBeer in light of my own historical research into drinking behaviour over the last 200 years - so look out for some Nacoa blog posts on this.

Why?

I grew up with an alcoholic parent. It was only several years after leaving that situation that I realised just how many things alcoholism affected when I was growing up.

Nacoa (The National Association for Children of Alcoholics) is a Bristol-based charity founded in 1990 to provide help and support for everyone affected by a parent’s drinking. They believe that every child has the right to a happy childhood and to live a creative and meaningful life - but when drink is the family secret they are more likely to experience family violence, neglect, and other problems in their own homes. Nacoa provides a variety of advice and support, including a free helpline, to children living with an alcoholic parent.