Amy Winehouse's mother says alcohol is "another demon" the singer must beat.

Janis Winehouse claims her 25-year-old daughter started drinking to fill the time while on an extended break in St. Lucia, adding Amy is feeling lonely.

She said: "Two of her closest friends are going over to try to calm her down a bit. I think it will make a big difference because in the past few weeks she's been bored. "It's just another one of Amy's addictions getting the better of her. It's yet another demon she has to beat."

Janis added Amy's father Mitch - who helped her during her well-publicised battle with drug addiction - is annoyed with the way she is behaving, and has decided to "have time out from her". Earlier this month, Amy angered fans with a shambolic appearance at the St. Lucia Jazz Festival.

The troubled singer appeared intoxicated during the performance and eventually collapsed in tears on stage as the audience booed and jeered her.

Janis explained to Britain's Closer magazine: "She knows her drinking ruined the performance. Of course her band is frustrated, but even they can't stop her from drinking. It has to come from Amy. "She came over drugs on her own so I know she'll stop drinking too much too. It has to be her decision though, no one else can stop her."

Last week, Amy pulled out of a concert to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Island Records record label. She was due to perform at the May 31 show in London, but claimed singing tracks from her last album "Back to Black" - many of which are about her estranged husband Blake Fielder-Civil - was too upsetting.

A source said: "Singing the songs she sang in St. Lucia has brought back too many painful memories. She just can't face it."

(China Daily/Agencies May 27, 2009)