The Alcohol Years is filmmaker Carol Morley's attempt to recapture five lost years in Manchester during 1982-87. What could have been a self indulgent excursion into the past turns out to be both a journey back to the Manchester of the Hacienda Club and New Order and into Morley's own alcoholic past.

Morley remains a largely unseen presence throughout the film, however her promiscuous exploits as a "second rate star-fucker" are thoroughly examined by former friends, and members of Manchester's music scene of the time— Pete Shelley, New Order, Edwin Collins and others. This thoroughly enjoyable documentary also touches upon Morley's reasons for embarking on a five year drinking binge, but never becomes maudlin. Mixing interviews and anecdotes, as well as footage of contemporary Manchester nightlife, it is a fascinating depiction of both the Manchester music scene before Ecstasy and Morley's lost years.