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Dennis grew up in Brooklyn\u2019s Breezy Point neighborhood, which all of his friends used to call \u201cBoozy Point.\u201d At age thirteen, working as a Cabana Boy, he would take beer from the beach club and host weekend bonfire parties for his friends. By the time he was 15, he was stealing liquor from his family\u2019s cabinet in hopes of having better parties. In retrospect, Dennis says he drank so early in hopes it could help him fit in with the other kids. He also felt isolated from his family; he could never be comfortable at gatherings or parties. He chose to stay in his room. Drinking took over Dennis\u2019 life by age 17, and he was cutting classes both in high school and later in college. The first person to confront Dennis about his drinking was his bartender.