Here, two recovering alcoholics tell their story to BBC News Online Scotland.

Charlie, 50, has been sober for 10 years. He grew up in Shettleston, in Glasgow's east end and now lives in Ayrshire.

In his own words, Charlie tells how his life was destroyed by his addiction.

I was 15-years-old. I was leaving home with my father chasing me along the road waving an axe at my head.

The madness that is alcoholism had erupted in our house again.

Shouting, screaming, hurt, anger, drunken rages and conflicts that were never settled, that was the home I was raised in.

As a teenager I was known as Shettleston's orphan

My own drinking took me to the streets. As a teenager I was known by many as 'Shettleston's orphan'.

I was to enter the doors of many prisons and institutions as my life degenerated.

An attempt at marriage when I was in my late teens failed miserably.

I know now that I didn't have the skills to build and maintain a relationship. Thankfully, I have them now.

I eventually managed to keep away from alcohol for years and got myself a good life and an education.

Not drinking is not a problem, drinking certainly was

Sadly, I drank again and alcohol removed everything I had gained, my wife and family, my career, and any vestige of sanity.

I went to Alcoholics Anonymous and found help.

I began to realise that I was a very ill person.

Things are different today, I'm a few years away from alcohol and I have my life back.

Not drinking is not a problem, drinking certainly was.

Carol, 32, lives in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, and has been sober for seven years.

My name is Carol and I am an alcoholic.

I have not had a drink for seven years since coming to Alcoholics Anonymous, finding out what I suffer from and applying the solution to my illness.

I drank from the age of 14, being a very fearful and insecure child.

When I took drink it made me into the person I had always wanted to be, confident, communicative and the life and soul of the party.

I destroyed a husband and three beautiful children through my addiction

Coming back to Alcoholics Anonymous 22-years-later it had taken everything - friends, family, my dignity and self-respect and almost my life.

My alcoholism affected everyone I came into contact with which included employers, friends, partners etc.

But most importantly the people who I affected most were my loved ones - my mother and father.

Then when I married I destroyed a husband and three beautiful children through my addiction.

Alcohol comes in bottles, alcoholism comes in people.

I thank God I have had the chance to treat my illness one day at a time and make amends to the people I have damaged - which I call 'the slaughter of innocents'.