In the heart of Birmingham, a group of Punjabi men have come together to confront a shared struggle with alcohol addiction. Their stories reveal a harsh reality: addiction doesn’t discriminate, often taking root in cultural pressures, social isolation, or emotional turmoil. Alcohol abuse, a significant issue among some within the South Asian community, carries with it stigma that prevents many from seeking help, especially in the West Midlands.
Faith as a Guiding Light
For these men, Sikhi has become both a refuge and a guiding force. The teachings of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji emphasised the importance of community (sangat), self-discipline, and service (seva). These principles are at the heart of their recovery, providing a framework to overcome addiction while fostering a sense of belonging and purpose.
Support groups tailored to cultural contexts, such as those integrating Sikh practices like meditation and scripture reading, have played a transformative role in their journey. Sharing experiences in a safe, faith-centered environment has allowed them to confront addiction head-on while drawing strength from their shared beliefs.
This was a recovery meeting in Oldbury organised by Sikh Recovery Network (SRN), who provide faith-based addiction support for Punjabi Sikhs. The service was founded by Jaz Rai, a recovering addict, who dedicates his life to battling the dark cloud of alcohol addiction hanging over the Punjabi community.
Addiction within South Asian communities is often cloaked in silence, stemming from societal pressures and fears of judgment. The openness of these recovery groups is a powerful step toward dismantling those barriers, creating a space where vulnerability is met with compassion rather than criticism. Although drinking alcohol is forbidden in Sikhism, 27% of British Sikhs report having someone in their family with an alcohol problem. It’s a problem which is rarely talked about openly in the community.
Their recovery journeys are inspiring a broader conversation about mental health and addiction in Punjabi communities. By embracing both modern therapeutic approaches and the spiritual teachings of Sikhi, these men are paving the way for others to seek help.
“There was always an excuse to drink like weddings where I’d have more than anyone. The cocaine, like the alcohol, got worse. I was strugglig mentally with my thoughts, they were always down and the come down from drugs makes you feel so low. Now drinking doesn’t give me pleasure anymore, it’s mad how us addicts think…I had no path but SRN gave me a path.”
Rav Sekhon, a British Punjabi psychotherapist who works with ethnic minority communities, says: “There is really strong pride and honour for the family name. They don’t want anyone to perceive them as having something wrong with them or any form of weakness.”
The romanticisation of drinking in Punjabi song lyrics, how women were increasingly drinking, ignoring the taboo. Significantly, many shared how normalised drinking was in Punjabi culture which started their alcoholism.
Jaz said: “Drinking has become a competition sport where if you drank below the cup line you were made fun of so you had to drink more. In here we feel safe not just from addiction, its amazing the way people share.“
Their experiences underscore the importance of addressing addiction through a multifaceted lens that considers not just the individual but also the cultural and spiritual dimensions of healing.
