Ronnie Allen and Sue Lloyd never touch alcohol.  They would rather drown their sorrows in a ginger ale or a glass of Coke.

 

They gave up drinking three years ago.  "It was my idea," Sue said.  "I'd had one very bad experience when I lived with a man who drank too much and used to become violent and throw things around.  In the end drink broke up that relationship.

 

"I became paranoid about drink and cut down to almost nothing.  Then, three years ago, I decided I might as well quit completely.  I'm a diabetic, and not drinking has improved my health.  Ronnie gave up as well, in sympathy - that has helped enormously."

 

But their no-drink vow has led to problems.  "People always want to buy us a drink," Ronnie said.  "And when we say no we have to go to some lengths to explain we're not reformed alcoholics.

 

"In our business it's unusual to find anyone who doesn't drink, unless they have had serious problems with booze."

 

The couple got their taste for ginger ale because that's the tipple that doubles for champagne on the Crossroads set.  And Sue drinks Coke to keep up her blood-sugar levels.

 

"I need to control my eating and drinking all the time because of the diabetes," she said.  "Ronnie keeps a careful eye on me.  He looks after me better than I look after myself!"