What needs to be done 

Growing up in a home with parental alcohol misuse has been recognised internationally as an adverse childhood experience (ACE) for over 20 years, and the physical and mental consequences of parental alcohol misuse have also been studied. 

Studies have found that there is a serious risk that parents with alcohol problems may neglect their children. Such neglect can have a negative impact on children’s emotional and physical development and education, and put them at risk of physical and sexual abuse. 

In Ireland, at least 1 in 6 young people live with the impacts of alcohol-related harms at home. 

That means that right now about 200,000 children in Ireland are living with the traumatic circumstances of a childhood where parental problem alcohol use is a frequent event.  

It is further estimated that there are around 400,000 people in Ireland today who are adult children from alcohol-impacted families.  

Given the large number of people affected across all sections of society, Alcohol Action Ireland is calling for government to act.

Read the Silent Voices manifesto here.