Ebert Reflects On 30 Years Of Sobriety

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Aug 26, 2009 6:40PM

At this point in his career Roger Ebert has earned the right to write about whatever subject that strikes his fancy, and he does so with eloquence, wit, passion and keenly honed journalistic instincts. Ebert also cut his teeth in newspapers when reporters and columnists had a reputation for hard-drinking and late night war story sessions at the Billy Goat; Ebert has said on many occasions that this is what newspapermen did.

A reflective Ebert looks back at thirty years of sobriety in today's Sun-Times. As with most of Ebert's writing since his health problems started in 2006, this look back on the day he decided to quit drinking is lent added gravitas from his experience:

"I've known two heavy drinkers who claimed they never had hangovers. I didn't believe them. Without hangovers, it is possible that I would still be drinking. Unemployed, unmarried, but still drinking--or, more likely, dead. Most alcoholics continue to drink as long as they can. For many, that means death. Unlike drugs in most cases, alcohol allows you to continue your addiction for what's left of your life, barring an accident. The lucky ones find their bottom, and surrender."

Ebert gives credit for his sobriety to Alcoholics Anonymous and manages to do so without sounding defensive regarding A.A.'s criticisms that participants place their recovery in a higher power, or that it's "cultish." "A 'cult?' How can that be, when it's free, nobody profits and nobody is in charge?" Ebert writes. "Maybe, (A.A.'s founders) thought, drunks can help each other, and pass it along."