Denzel Washington, a renowned Hollywood actor, recently shared his personal struggle with alcoholism in an interview with Esquire.
The two-time Academy Award winner reflected on his 15-year battle with wine consumption, describing it as a subtle yet destructive habit.
Washington recalled how his wine cellar, built in 1999, became a source of indulgence. “Wine is very tricky. It’s very slow,” he explained. He began drinking expensive wines, including $4,000 bottles, and would often order the finest vintages from Gil Turner’s Fine Wines & Spirits on Sunset Boulevard.
In addition to his struggles with wine, Washington also acknowledged experimenting with drugs in his youth. However, he emphasized that he never became dependent on substances like heroin or cocaine.
The turning point came when Washington approached 60. He made the decision to quit drinking entirely, marking a decade of sobriety this December. “I’ve done a lot of damage to the body,” he admitted. “But I’ve been clean. Ten years this December. I stopped at sixty and I haven’t had a thimble’s worth since.”
Now, Washington is focused on his legacy and personal growth. “Things are opening up for me now, like being seventy. It’s real. And it’s okay. This is the last chapter, if I get another thirty, what do I want to do? My mother made it to ninety-seven.”
