Singer talks about addiction: Ben Zucker: Not that far to do without alcohol

Pop singer Ben Zucker (42) speaks openly about his alcoholism. “I would say yes,” he said when asked by the “picture” whether he was an alcoholic. “I could also say I am alcoholic.” Many people who had the same problem did not dare to say that. “The word alcoholics do the same that the person concerned is no longer helped. But that’s not the case,” said Zucker (“So and?!”).

He lost control of alcohol in 2020 during the Corona pandemic when his second arena tour was canceled and he could not see his family and his girlfriend at the time. “I didn’t know how to proceed and told myself: Now I’m crunching one.” It went like that for months.

Three -week hospital stay

He looked for professional help about a year ago. For 21 days he went to a clinic for carpool. Among other things, entrepreneurs, lawyers and doctors were in his group. In almost all, the point to derive into the addiction is “like me the pressure that arose due to the high demands in their professions,” said the singer.

Nevertheless, he didn’t stop drinking. “I still drink my vodka on ice as a reward after a concert or when I come to rest, that’s just part of it. But I still can’t really control that.”

“Processes that need their time”

The therapy was still worth it, emphasized Zucker, who was born in Ueckermünde (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) and lived in Berlin for a long time. “It’s not that you go to a clinic, and after that everything is fine again.” You learn how to deal with the addiction and ask questions: “How do I perceive alcohol and why do I need it at all? These are processes that need their time and I take this time. I’m not that far to do without alcohol. I just can’t do that yet.”

So far, alcoholism has not had a negative impact on its health. “But fear is there and gets bigger,” said sugar. “The chalice has passed me so far, but it is not that it takes forever before I could have a liver damage. And then it would really be fun with fun.”