Unseen harm to children from alcohol consumption by others

Unseen harm to children from alcohol consumption by others

New research published by Drink Wise reveals that 9,561 young people - around 20% of those under 16 years - have been badly harmed by someone else’s drinking.

One in five adults surveyed as part of the research said they knew of a child who had been affected by the drinking of a family member, friend or stranger. They listed a range of ways in which children had been affected, from being physically hurt to neglected, from missing hospital appointments to missing school.

The survey reveals that the equivalent of at least five children in every classroom have been harmed by someone else’s drinking.

The research shows that in the average borough council area equivalent to Rochdale, as many as:

9,500 children have been anxious, upset or worried
1,100 have been neglected
760 have missed school
570 have been mentally affected
470 have missed leisure activities
280 are in physical danger and
190 have missed health appointments

Councillor Cecile Biant, Lead Member for Public Health in Rochdale, said: “Alcohol is probably cheaper and easier to get hold of than any other recreational drug, and as a result people can easily become dependent on it. Through no fault of their own, often it is innocent children who bear the brunt of alcohol-related harm.”

Rochdale Council has launched a new campaign: 'Let’s Look Again at Alcohol', which includes a new film to get people to think about what more we can do to protect young people from the harm of alcohol.

New analysis shows up to 15 children a day are being admitted to hospital, some as young as eleven.

Councillor Biant added: “Doctors and nurses tell us they are incredibly worried about the amount of alcohol young people are drinking, not least because many are dying from liver disease in their twenties. This campaign aims to ask the public to look again at their use of alcohol and ask what more we can do to help protect children.”