ɪn mˈɑːɹtʃ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd θɹˈiː, pˈæɾɚsən ɹᵻvˈiːld hiː hæd ɐn ˈælkəhˌɑːl pɹˈɑːbləm, ˈæftɚ mˈɪsɪŋ ˌæbɚdˈiːnz θɹˈiː θɹˈiː hˈoʊm dɹˈɔː wɪð dˈʌndiː dˈuː tə bˌiːɪŋ tˈuː hʌŋɡˈoʊvɚ tʊ ɐtˈɛnd.
In March 2003, Paterson revealed he had an alcohol problem, after missing Aberdeen's 3–3 home draw with Dundee due to being too hungover to attend.