Half of children have
seen parents drunk

Research from the industry-funded charity Drinkaware found 46 per cent had seen their parents drunk, with 29 per cent saying they had seen it on more than one occasion.

The poll of 1,000 parents and their children also found 42 per cent of parents admitting their child had seen them or their partner drunk.

But 72 per cent of parents said they felt very confident talking to their child about drinking and 75 per cent believed they were best placed to do so.

Elaine Hindal, chief executive of Drinkaware, said: “While setting rules about alcohol and speaking to children about the risks is a positive step, equally important is that parents understand their significant influence as role models and feel confident to set a good example.

“Children are aware of alcohol from a young age.

“Estimates suggest that around one in three children under 16 in the UK live with an adult binge-drinker, and studies show that the odds of a teenager getting drunk double if they have seen their parents drunk – even if only on a few occasions.

“Understanding the impact of what parents say as well as what they do is important, as both can shape children’s attitudes towards alcohol.