As his "Lovable Lush" character, Brooks usually portrayed a conventioneer who had a few too many drinks—not completely falling-down drunk, but inebriated enough that he would mix up his words to comedic delight. Brooks drew upon his own battles with alcohol for his act, but the irony was that during his period of greatest fame, Brooks eschewed alcohol almost entirely. He gave up drinking to win a bet in 1964. "Fellow made me a $10 bet I couldn't quit, and I haven't had a drink since. At the time I needed the $10," Brooks said.