How Soccer AM Star ‘Tubes’ Overcame His Alcohol Addiction
Few would have suspected that whilst cracking jokes and owning the stage on Sky Sports’ popular football show Soccer AM, that Peter Dale, known for his TV character ‘Tubes’, was secretly battling a crippling alcohol addiction. On the 30th May 2024, Peter reached 8 years of sobriety, stating that giving up alcohol was the best decision of his life. We discuss how Peter was able to overcome his addiction, and what people can do to help themselves if they believe they might have an alcohol problem.
Peter Dale (Tubes) and His Battle with Alcohol Addiction
At the age of just 16, Peter was catapulted into a position of unexpected stardom, getting a regular speaking role on Soccer AM and instantly becoming a smash hit with football fans all over the country. His character Tubes exuded confidence and wit, knowing how to hold the room before delivering eccentric one liners. It became a staple of the show, and Peter suddenly found himself at the forefront of Britain’s booming football sub-culture.
However, this sudden change of fortune had an invisible side. The fame that his character brought him, at such a tender age, led him down the path of a particular lifestyle that demanded he drank, not just to revel in the luxuries of his new-found stardom, but also to fit in with others.
Known for being the ‘funny guy’ on a football talk show, Peter felt pressured to lean into his character’s persona off screen and fulfil the expectations of him as a ‘lad’ who liked to drink. With football sub-culture being so steeped in alcohol consumption, alcohol quickly became a staple of his life: ‘‘I’d plan my life around alcohol.”
Alongside societal pressures, Peter also struggled with anxiety before performing, in stark contrast to the image that his character projected, leading him further down the road of alcohol dependency. Reflecting on being so young when his problem first arose, Peter said he recognised the danger signs early on: “At a young age I knew my relationship with alcohol wasn’t healthy.” Despite this, Peter felt helplessly swept up in his new lifestyle and spiralled further into dependency.
Football and drinking culture
With the ever-increasing popularity of sport like football, a culture of heavy drinking is continuing to grip the lives of young people, especially men, who see drinking as a natural counterpart to sport-spectating. Young men can often be peer-pressured into adopting a masculine identity where drink is considered habitual. The character of Tubes was the embodiment of this identity, which Peter fell victim to.
This trend poses all kinds of problems for young people, who may eventually develop a dependency or addiction to alcohol. According to Alcohol Change UK, in England there are an estimated 602,391 dependent drinkers, and only 18% are receiving treatment.
Meanwhile, according to Public Health England, hospital admissions for alcohol-specific conditions among those under 18 reached just under 10,000 between 2020 and 2023. This early onset of alcohol use can lead to severe physical and mental health issues, including impaired brain development and increased risk of mental health disorders. However, it’s never too late to seek professional help.
How Peter Overcame His Alcohol Addiction
Peter’s addiction reached breaking point when he started feeling more paranoid and started having suicidal thoughts. He admitted his addiction nearly cost him his life when on one occasion he attempted suicide by walking out in front of a moving car whilst drunk.
No one would have expected that one of TV’s most unflappable characters could have struggled so much behind the scenes. Peter’s case goes to show that addiction can affect anyone, at any time, regardless of one’s societal status and external appearance.
Thankfully, Peter was able to help himself out of his addiction by first and foremost admitting that he had a problem. Once he did, he found it a lot easier receiving help from others: “The support I received when I admitted I had a problem was massive and it really helped me.”
After facing up to his problem, Peter then found it easier starting rehab therapy with the greater support around him, treatment which he believes saved his life: “It was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life, I’d be dead by now, I truly believe that.”
Following rehab, Peter then further helped himself by finding a new hobby: golf. He started a YouTube channel ‘Golf Life’ and stated that he has never looked back since: “I turned to golf when I finally admitted that I had a massive problem with alcohol, I replaced alcohol with Golf really.”
Now that it’s come to Peter’s 8-year sober anniversary, the TV personality is continuing to open up about his recovery from alcohol addiction to raise awareness of the perils of addiction. He shared his story on social media, admitting that it was ‘easy’ to do so once admitting to having a problem, and he is continuing to encourage all those who might be struggling with addiction to seek support rather than suffer alone.
It's important to understand that addiction isn't just a choice, but a condition in and of itself that requires physical and mental treatment. Thankfully, help is available. Here at New Leaf, we offer various treatments and therapies to treat alcohol addiction. You’re not alone, and Like Peter, taking that first step might just be the best choice you’ve ever made.