1.77 per mille at the wheel: Jenny Elvers talks about alcohol
Actress Jenny Elvers has spoken publicly about an alcohol relapse. The 51-year-old confirmed to "Bild" that she had been reported for drunk driving. "It was this one day when I fell off the wagon. I am infinitely sorry," she said. Elvers' management confirmed the report when asked by dpa on Monday and said that Elvers would not comment further on the incidents for the time being.
The Ostprignitz-Ruppin police had reported that a 51-year-old female driver had been found to have a breath alcohol level of 1.77 per mille during a check on a country road in Brandenburg on October 31 and that preliminary proceedings had been initiated. Elvers confirmed the incident (Ref.: 0368738/2023) and told Bild on Sunday evening: "I've been suffering from depression for over ten years, which is why I started drinking and numbing myself with alcohol back then. I'm actually well controlled with medication. Nevertheless, there are always phases when I feel sad and realize: I have to be careful."
Before the incident on October 31, she was not feeling well, said Elvers. "I was looking for an outlet, unfortunately the wrong one, and drank alcohol on that one day. In combination with the medication, it was the worst thing I could have done." She was on her way from Hamburg to Berlin, where she wanted to see her doctor. During the journey, she realized that she couldn't drive safely - and pulled off the freeway to get some sleep.
Her driver's license is now gone, but she is feeling better, said Elvers. "The alcohol is out of my system, I'm completely sober again. I'm in treatment. The main reason why I drink is my depression."
Elvers wrote on Instagram on Sunday evening: "People make mistakes when they're not feeling well - when depression hits with full force." She hadn't meant to hurt anyone, it said. And: "I'll get over it."
The actress ("Männerpension") and reality show participant had repeatedly hit the headlines with her private life during her career. In 2013, Elvers spoke publicly about her alcoholism and also addressed it in her autobiography "Wackeljahre: Mein Leben zwischen Glamour und Absturz" in 2018.
People showed sympathy towards Jenny Elvers following her public confession about drunk driving. Despite having a successful career on television, Elvers revealed that she struggled with alcohol due to depression.
Source: www.dpa.com
