Parents and alcohol misuse

ICLS research evidence on the links between parents' drinking and health outcomes for their children has been used in the production of a parliamentary briefing note. The research, by Centre Director Yvonne Kelly and colleagues, looks at the links between drinking during pregnancy and behavioural problems in young children at age 3  and at age 5, what influences children to drink at a very young age and which young children are most at risk of being drunk.  

The POST briefing says there is a lack of consensus on the effects of drinking small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy. ICLS research using the Millennium Cohort Study shows that where mothers drink no more than 1-2 units per week or per occasion, there are no effects on child educational and behavioural outcomes. 

ICLS research looking at children aged 11 who drink alcohol shows that although parents', particularly, mum's drinking is important, peer drinking appears to be more influential. 

• Find out more about ICLS young people and alcohol research on the Child of our Time blog