Nursery World - A Unique Child - Alcohol: Drunk in charge

Children can be in danger emotionally and physically from drinking parents, says Annette Rawstrone.

Binge drinking and anti-social behaviour often spring to mind when problem drinking is mentioned. Not much thought is given to the 'worrying numbers' of children in the UK whose parents misuse alcohol.

Recent research found that 2.6 million children live with a parent whose drinking puts them at risk of neglect and 705,000 live with a dependent drinker. Little is currently done to support these children, with one-third of social workers receiving no training on alcohol and many early years practitioners unaware of the problem's prevalence. 'The whole system sweeps the problem under the carpet and, together with the secrecy and stigma involved, millions of children are left to do their best in incredibly difficult circumstances,' Alcohol Concern chief executive Don Shenker says.

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