The magazine Chef & Karriär: His son’s graduation party was the last straw for warehouse manager Håkan Böös—hopefully the very last, after a long life of denial and lies.
When Did You Begin Misusing Alcohol?
Ever since getting drunk for the first time at 16, I have never been able to stop at just one drink. I drank until the alcohol ran out or I fell asleep. But it was not until the 1990s that I began drinking more and more often to unwind from work.
Have You ever been Drunk at Work?
No, but I was often hungover and hardly fit to drive to work or operate a forklift on the job, which I did anyway. And almost every day I drank a couple of beers in the car on the way home from work. Since I was the manager, I could set the schedule according to Systembolaget’s opening hours.
How Did the Drinking Affect You as a Manager?
Today, sober, I believe I am a much better manager; previously, for example, I did not dare to address conflicts for fear that someone would find something out about me. I do not understand how I managed to do my job; I spent so much energy avoiding being found out.
Did Anyone Notice Anything?
No—I actually asked afterwards. Everyone at work was equally surprised when I admitted myself to a treatment center.
What Led You to Decide to Admit Yourself to a Treatment Center?
I had been in outpatient treatment for 18 months, but did not really believe I had an alcohol problem. It was only the day after my son graduated, in the spring of 2015, that I came to a realization. My wife had removed all the alcohol from the party the night before, and in a panic over not having anything more to drink, I opened a bottle of whisky that my son had received as a graduation present. Right then and there I understood that I had serious problems and actually needed help.
How Did your Employer and your Coworkers Respond?
My employer at the time handled it well. They paid for my treatment and drew up a contract with me that, among other things, required me to undergo testing, submit a medical certificate on the first day, and continue attending therapy. My colleagues also treated me well, and no one has ever used my alcoholism against me. When, a few years later, I applied for a new job, I was open about being a sober alcoholic, and I have always been treated with respect.
Do You Benefit from your Experiences?
I am better at recognizing if someone has an alcohol problem. I dare to ask the question that no one asked me and that one must ask if one suspects something, even if it is uncomfortable. Nine out of ten will not admit they have a problem, but the question gives them pause for thought. Perhaps it can prompt people to seek help in time.