Alcohol abuse affects 1m Australian children

Alcohol abuse affects more than one million Australian children, according to a report on alcohol and domestic violence.

More than 1m Australian children are affected by alcohol abuse, a study has claimed

The study, titled The hidden harm: Alcohol’s impact on children and families, detailed how 140,000 children are substantially affected by other people’s drinking, while more than 10,000 care in child protection as a result of a carer’s drinking problem.

The relationship between alcohol and domestic violence has been brought to light as the country proposes an initiative to address family violence and violence against women.

The government-supported study by the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research (CAPR) was launched in Sydney by domestic violence campaigner and Australian of the Year, Rosie Batty, whose son was killed in public by his father.

The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) funded the study, which explored the extent of the problem in Australia and the high number of families affected.

Michael Thorn, CEO of FARE, said state governments need to develop new policies to tackle the problems.

“That means introducing population-wide policies that reduce the level of alcohol in our community,” he said. “If only governments would acknowledge that they can do something about problems like family violence by tackling the availability of alcohol, we will see reductions in the incidences of family violence and the severity of family violence.

“We need national public education campaigns that acknowledge and address the role of alcohol in family violence.

“We need targeted screening of young people at greater risk of harm, and measures that reduce the availability, target the price, and regulate the promotion of alcohol.”