SOUTHEND’S Sober Socials group is on a mission to normalise socialising without the need to drink alcohol. Michael Sargood, founder, hosts regular events providing a booze-free alternative to traditional nights out. Mr Sargood gave up alcohol in March last year and here he speaks candidly about his battle with booze.

We humans can be really stubborn.

We get to a certain age, decide what all our beliefs about the world are, and we won’t allow those beliefs to be swayed by anyone or anything.

But what if we’re wrong?

When I first ditched the booze, I didn’t read any quit lit books.

But I did start reading up on philosophy.

That’s when I discovered my main man, Plato.

He tells the story of three men who have been chained up in a cave since birth.

The cave is dimly lit by a fire behind the prisoners.

Every now and then, servants and animals pass in front of the flames, casting long shadows upon the cave wall.

To the prisoners, these shadows are their only reality.

One day, however, one of the prisoners breaks free of his shackles.

He ventures forth from the cave and for the first time sees real people, animals, trees, nature.

At first he is terrified by this new, alien world and takes comfort by focussing on the familiar shadows.

But slowly, his eyes adjust to the light.

He dares to look at the sun and sees his own shadow cast upon the ground.

Finally, he understands that his experience of the world to this point has been watching the mere shadows of real things.

Buoyed by his epiphany, he returns to the cave to tell them of his great discovery and free them from their shackles so that they too may delight in this brave new world.

But when he arrives, he is met with resistance and derision.

They think he’s finally flipped and dismiss his stories of animals and nature and sunshine as the ramblings of a madman.

They opt to remain in their familiar, miserable, cave.

This allegory spoke to me on so many levels about addiction.

My entire adult life had been spent in a culture where boozing is not only normalised but encouraged.

Shackled and blinkered, I was unwilling to accept any other version of reality.

It was only when I broke free of the chains of addiction that I saw a new, more beautiful, reality.

At first it was terrifying and I hankered after my familiar shadows, but when my eyes adjusted, I desperately wanted to unshackle those that I was imprisoned with.

More often than not, I’m dismissed as mad but I’ll take that.

I’m done with my miserable cave.

For more information on upcoming events being hosted by the group, find Sober Socials - Southend on Facebook or visit www.sobersocials.co.uk