Melanie Sykes, 55, urges people to go sober this Christmas as she insists it's too dangerous for young people to drink and questions why people over the age of 50 get inebriated
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Melanie Sykes has urged people to go sober this year as she insisted it's too dangerous for young people to drink, while questioning why those over 50 drink in a new video.
The former TV presenter, 55, shared the new clip on her YouTube channel as she discussed the culture of drinking as well as revealing she and her family have decided not to buy presents this year for each other.
Melanie also reflected on her own alcohol habits and sobriety journey as she admitted she enjoyed the taste of alcohol before she stopped drinking.
The star, who was the face of the Boddingtons Bitter beer advert in the mid 90s, made clear she's not 'anti-alcohol' and said she is 'pro-choice' and that her message was not for those who just enjoy the taste of a glass of wine.
She explained: 'Those that just guzzle for the effects of it, that is the people I'm talking to and you have to know the difference.
'I'm not anti-alcohol, I'm not anti-anything, I'm pro-choice so if you want to get bladdered, go do it, but you are going to have to deal with the pain of that.'
Melanie Sykes has urged people to go sober this year as she insisted it's too dangerous for young people to drink, while questioning why those over 50 drink in a new video
The former TV presenter, 55, shared the new clip on her YouTube channel as she discussed the culture of drinking while speaking about her own sobriety journey
The mum-of-two, who has been sober for approximately eight years, candidly said she does not miss consuming alcohol, but sometimes she'd like a glass of red wine (pictured in 2021)
Opening up about her own battle with alcohol, Melanie said how she wouldn't drink if she was under intense pressure as she knew 'that's not going to help' before adding: 'I didn't hit the bottle in times of fear, I didn't use it in that way'.
The mum-of-two, who has been sober for approximately eight years, candidly said she does not miss consuming alcohol, but sometimes she would like a glass of red wine.
Melanie went on to say while some would view Christmas as the 'worst' time to get sober, she thinks it's the 'perfect' time.
'The pressures of Christmas are huge anyway. Tino said to me a few months ago, that's my youngest son, he's 21. He lives with me. [He said] "let's not do presents this year". And I was just like you know what? That's such a good idea.
'One, it's just so expensive and two, I don't want to be shopping I want to be just being grateful and make nice food and be grateful and feel gratitude, you know, for my two sons and celebrate love and not be buying and getting stressed about who wants what and where to get it. It's a time for hibernation and celebration and that's what we're doing and it's a liberation.
'It's a time for peace and love and that does not include getting drunk.'
She also questioned what the reasoning is for people aged 50 and over to drink and warned younger adults to drink with their friends as the world is now too dangerous.
Melanie probed: 'Young people love to drink, you know, when I see 50-somethings still getting p****d I do question what's your motive?
The star, who was the face of the Boddingtons Bitter beer advert in the mid 90s, made clear she's not 'anti-alcohol' and said she is 'pro-choice'
'Why are you doing it? But young people are experimenting, just try to do it with your friends.'
She continued: 'It's too dangerous out there to be in random places drinking yourself silly and not knowing what's going on and people are getting spiked. Do it with your friends who you love and you know because you are poisoning yourself at the end of the day, it is actual poison for the system.
'Like I say, I'm not talking about that beautiful glass of red or that hot toddy or you know, a little shot of whiskey at the end of night to savour with a cigar or whatever it is that you like.
'I'm not anti-drinking, I'm anti-poisoning yourself. I just want you to wake up to the fact that that's what you're doing.'
Melanie added that she could never imagine 'poisoning my body ever again'.
Just days ago Melanie told told fans not to worry about her as she gave a health update on her autoimmune condition.
Last month she said that she is in 'so much pain' after being diagnosed with a disease, which has left her 'two-thirds bald' and with excessive inflammation all over her body.
After becoming the face of Boddingtons Bitter, Melanie then went on to enjoy a successful career in television from the Big Breakfast in 1997 to fronting her own daytime show (pictured in 2020)
Just days ago Melanie told told fans not to worry about her as she gave a health update on her autoimmune condition
She gave an insight into her hair loss in April and showed her side profile, where she pointed out a bald spot on her head.
Melanie said at the time: 'I'm experiencing alopecia in quite a significant way. I've lost inches off my hairline at the back and probably got half my hair at the moment.'
After becoming the face of Boddingtons Bitter, Melanie then went on to enjoy a successful career in television from the Big Breakfast in 1997 to fronting her own daytime show alongside the late Des O'Connor - Today with Des and Mel in 2002.
Then in 2014 she headed to the jungle to star in ITV's I'm A Celebrity, finishing in third place behind X Factor singer Jake Quickenden.
