Harmful drinking is defined as:
‘Drinking at levels that lead to significant harm to physical and mental health and at levels that may cause significant harm to others.’
The level for women is: Over 6 units a day/35 units a week
The level for men is: Over 8 units a day/50 units a week
As with drug misuse, it is not possible to generalise about the effects of harmful drinking on care of a child. Protective and supportive older siblings, adult relatives and a non-drinking parent can mitigate the possible harm that could arise from a parent with alcohol problems
Children are most at risk of significant harm from parental alcohol misuse when:
- The mother continues heavy drinking during pregnancy
- It is associated with violence in the family
- A parent’s practical caring and organisational skills are diminished affecting the child’s development
- A parent’s mental state or behaviour puts the child at risk of injury, psychological/ emotional distress or neglect
- There is poor parental attachment to the child
- Money available to the household to meet basic needs is reduced
- The child also begins drinking at an early age
- The child is drawn into criminal activities to keep up appearances
- The child is a passenger in a car driven by a parent or carer who is drunk
- The child assumes a caring responsibility for the parent
- There is no protective parent/carer within the household
Children may be vulnerable when a parent is attempting to stop drinking. The withdrawal symptoms may interfere for a while with the parent’s ability to meet the needs of the child and relapses in abstinence are to be expected. Continuing vigilance and support from agencies will therefore be needed.
If professionals become aware of a child or an unborn baby who is under the care of a parent who misuses alcohol where the drinking is having harmful effects on parenting capacity and may cause the child to suffer or be likely to suffer significant harm, then that professional must make a referral to Children’s Social Care.
