Charities seek urgent action for children affected by parents misusing alcohol

Charities including Turning Point and Alcohol Concern have written to children’s minister Beverley Hughes today calling for urgent action to tackle the “misery” of 1.3 million children affected by parental alcohol misuse.

The letter, signed by academics and 11 charities, calls on the government to launch a national inquiry into the impact of parental alcohol misuse, and to develop new services for children and parents.

Research published by Turning Point earlier this year found that children whose parents misused alcohol suffered from behavioural, emotional and school-related problems.

They were also more likely to express anger through antisocial behaviour and develop alcohol problems themselves.

Turning Point chief executive Lord Victor Adebowale said: “The government cannot ignore the children and families affected by alcohol misuse any longer. We are dealing with a major social and public health challenge which devastates hundreds of thousands of lives.

“We hope to see imminent commitment from the government to assess the scale of the impact of parental alcohol misuse and begin to work with agencies to find new ways to support families.”