My big brother Daniel is 4 years older than me.

He started drinking when he was 13.

I remember him coming home drunk or my Mum getting a phone call to go and get him at the police station.

My Mum and Dad were always arguing with Dan and with each other.

I hated it, I felt like I never got any attention.

I tried to concentrate on school and stuff but sometimes it was just too difficult with all the drama going on at home.

I’m quite shy anyway but when everything started with Dan, I just kept my head down and kept quiet. I didn’t know who to speak to.

By the time he was 16, Dan was drinking every day. He was always drunk … he just looked a mess.

He was stealing from my Mum and Dad, causing lots of arguments and getting into trouble with the police.

Last year Dan got into a fight and ended up going to prison.

It broke my Mum’s heart. She was devastated.

I hadn’t realised how much Dan’s drinking had affected my life until he was gone.

I also told my Mum and Dad how I’d been feeling for the first time. I think they thought I was protected from most of it. It was good to talk to them.

They encouraged me to get out more and I started playing football for a local team and that has been going great. It’s helped me make new friends and feel more confident.

Home was more peaceful and I could have my pals round without worrying about any arguments and things are better with my Mum and Dad and I was doing better at school.

Since Dan has come home from prison he hasn’t been drinking. We are actually getting on okay now.

I hope he doesn’t start drinking again. It’s hard for him though because his mates still drink and he says it’s hard to find stuff to do that doesn’t involve having a drink.

If someone in your family is drinking and it’s affecting you, I would say to you to go and speak to someone, it really can help.