Harm to family
When individuals drink heavily or binge drink on a regular basis, it can lead to serious alcohol-related harms to the individual, and can have major impacts on the whole family.
Alcohol use is considered harmful when it negatively affects major areas of a person’s life, including:
- physical and mental health
- relationships
- work
- finances
When parents, caregivers or other family members are drinking alcohol in harmful ways, it is dangerous for the individual and can affect the health and well-being of everyone in the home.
Impacts on the individual and the family include:
- Increases in family conflict and violence in the home.
- Increases in family breakups.
- Negative impacts on children.
- Financial problems when money is spent on alcohol instead of other needs.
- Increased crime and risk of going to jail.
- Loss of jobs and increased risk of poverty and homelessness.
- Alcohol-related accidents, injuries and deaths.
This section provides information on how alcohol can impact the family and steps that families can take to reduce the harm.