Comedian Ash Wicks Reveals Battle with Alcoholism

Australian comedian Ash Wicks has revealed the extent of his past struggle with alcohol, admitting he consumed as many as 15 beers a day while alone at home before quitting in February. Wicks shared his experience on the Life Uncut podcast, hosted by Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne, describing how drinking had become a coping mechanism.

"I would have thought that I would be dead before this day. There were times where I thought that was it," Wicks said, reflecting on his previous relationship with alcohol. He stated that by the end of 2025, the constant effort to manage his drinking had become exhausting.

"I wasn't drinking for fun. I was drinking 12, 15 beers a day at home alone for no reason," he explained. "I could see that my family was exhausted about it."

Wicks initially intended a short break from alcohol after a demanding period of work and travel where drinking was common. However, after a month of sobriety, he began to recognize the profound negative impact alcohol had on his life.

"You don't realize how toxic something is the closer you are to it," he noted. "Then when you take a step back and you start to come away from it, you realize how toxic I was and that I wasn't giving my family 100 per cent of myself."

Impact on Family

Wicks became emotional when discussing the potential effects of his drinking on his son, Oscar. "I'm his f***ing hero, right? And he's got to watch his hero try and get himself through life," he said. This realization was intensified by an email from someone who grew up with an alcoholic father, sharing how they felt their parent never considered them 'good enough' to stop drinking. Wicks stated, "I don't want my kids to think that they weren't good enough for me to change something about me to help everyone."

Confronting Identity

Giving up alcohol involved confronting how deeply it had become embedded in his identity. Wicks, who started drinking at 14, found that alcohol had been a constant companion through various life experiences.

"Any inconvenience, I would drink. Any bad day, I'd drink. Any celebration, I'd drink. Any minor win, I would drink," he recalled. His brain had equated drinking with reward, making the prospect of a future without it emotionally challenging. "It was literally like it was my best friend," he said. "It felt like my best friend just died. That's how I felt."

Wicks described a period of mourning before gradually adjusting to his new life. He also reflected on his family's history with alcohol, noting that his grandfather drank heavily and lived to 86. This familial normalization had shaped his understanding of drinking habits.

"It's a habit as well but it's a personality trait," Wicks said. "It's like, 'Oh, that's Uncle Gary. He's a big drinker. He's always drunk.' And in your teen and early 20 years, you're proud of that."

His perspective shifted when his 89-year-old grandmother revealed her true feelings about her husband's lifelong drinking. "I wish he didn't drink," she told him. Wicks stated, "I grew up my whole life not knowing that and thinking this is just normal, but it's really not."

Sobriety and Relationships

The initial months of sobriety saw Wicks develop a strong craving for sugar, with Oreos becoming a temporary substitute. He humorously recounted asking his partner, April, to buy eight packets of Oreos at once.

Despite these adjustments, Wicks reported that his 16-year relationship with April has become stronger. "My relationship with April is probably the best we've ever been," he said. His decision to quit alcohol has led him to re-evaluate a relationship with the substance that had significantly shaped his life.

For those needing support, Counselling Online offers free and confidential 24/7 assistance for individuals affected by alcohol or drug use in Australia.