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| Yiannis Boutaris with a bottle of wine in his hand |
"Anyone who is addicted to alcohol should accept it and to get rid of it, they should say they want it. I am an alcoholic, even though some people tell me that I am not, because I do not drink for now!" said the former mayor of Thessaloniki, Giannis Boutaris.
"I will die with a bottle of wine in my hand." So said the former mayor acknowledging the serious problem of alcoholism he faces. "One thing that can characterize me is my relationship with wine. "Even when I die, I will die with a bottle of wine in my hand," he said characteristically.
"I met my wife in 1954. We were in high school. After a long time, we got married in 1964 and had three children. In 1981 we divorced. In the late ’88, early ’89, I was up to my ears in alcohol. My wife was living with another and I told her "I can not live without you". If this man fascinates you, you will stay with him, if he does not fascinate you, we will start our life again," he said, referring to the relationship he had with his wife.
If he were to give any advice to anyone with an addiction, he would say, first of all, "he has to accept it, and to get rid of it, he has to say he wants it. I'm an alcoholic, even though many people tell me, 'You're not, because I don't drink.' Not all alcoholics always say "I am an alcoholic". Do not drink today, what will happen tomorrow, I do not know… ". Also, Boutaris stated that today it is not alcohol that creates addiction, but the telephone.