Is alcohol dependence hurting your family?

The effects alcohol problems can have on those around you should not be underestimated.

The negative effects of alcohol dependence on health tend to be widely known and have been highlighted by various pieces of research. But what is often overlooked is the damaging impact that alcohol abuse can have on relationships, particularly within families.

Alcohol Concern warns that children can suffer a great deal when a parent has a drinking problem, with uncertainty over routines - such as when someone will be coming home or whether or not they will be able to perform the school run - among the key problems.

Birthdays or plans for other special occasions can be forgotten, the organisation notes, while the difficulty of talking about alcohol problems can prompt families to become withdrawn. "The high degree of social embarrassment involved - and the unpredictability so often associated with drinking problems - makes it very awkward to extend invitations to others to visit the family home," says Alcohol Concern. "The family thus tends to become increasingly socially isolated."

Outside of the home, heavy drinkers can find that they damage relationships with friends and colleagues. Alcohol is often associated with social functions, but heavy consumption can have the opposite effect to the one desired. Constant drinking can make a person difficult to talk to and result in seclusion from friends, while a reduced ability to perform duties at work can lead to a range of problems - with co-workers as well as with employers.

The website Alcohol Stuff warns of a number of key ways in which relationships with partners can also be damaged by heavy drinking, with alcoholism often causing deep rifts. Money and time are highlighted as major issues, with heavy drinking likely to take up large amounts of both - something that could cause significant resentment towards a partner.

Alcohol dependence can have a wider impact on society as a whole, with what is often referred to as the binge drinking culture taking its toll on hospital and police services, as well as raising questions over examples being set to youngsters. According to the British Crime Survey 2007/08, published by the Home Office, victims in nearly half of all violent crimes believed offenders to have been under the influence of alcohol. Indeed, in 2007-08 aggressors in nearly one million violent attacks were believed to be drunk. Furthermore, a clear link between alcohol and domestic violence was established, with 37 per cent of incidents involving the substance.

So while the occasional drink at home or with friends can be happily enjoyed, the effects a reliance on alcohol can have on relationships and its potential impact should not be underestimated. Fortunately, those who fear their drinking may be hurting those around them can seek alcoholism help and treatment to ensure things do not get out of control.