Finnish experts offer guidelines on responsible alcohol use to protect children’s wellbeing during holiday season
Many Finnish citizens take their vacations in July, and this period often sees an increase in alcohol consumption. This impacts everyday family life and affects the wellbeing of children and young people.
Erika Viding, a youth support line expert from the Mannerheim Child Welfare Association, and Riitta Särkelä, Secretary General of the Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters, offer five guidelines for adults’ alcohol use in families with children.
1. Keep Moderation
Viding emphasizes that parents’ alcohol consumption should always be moderate in the presence of children. Adults often think that a few drinks do not affect their behavior and that children do not notice anything. However, children are sensitive and can pick up on subtle changes such as the volume of an adult’s voice increasing, laughter becoming more raucous, and gestures and expressions being a little different than usual.
2. Ensure Someone is Sober
Särkelä stresses the importance of always having at least one sober adult present, especially during holidays and celebrations when alcohol consumption may be higher than usual. She underscores an adult’s role in ensuring children’s safety. She also suggests that children might not necessarily need to be at parties at all, especially if the alcohol consumption is expected to be high.
3. Offer Non-Alcoholic Alternatives
Viding suggests that non-alcoholic alternatives such as mocktails can be offered as festive beverages. She hopes that alcohol will not be used out of habit.
4. Be a Safe Adult
Särkelä encourages discussing the issue if alcohol consumption in a close family has increased. She suggests that the conversation can be initiated by expressing concern about frequent drinking and offering help. Viding also suggests that it requires courage from close family and friends to discuss the issue and be a safe adult for children.
5. Seek Support and Help if Needed
If a parent realizes over the summer that they cannot control their alcohol use, it is important to seek help. Särkelä reminds that various low-threshold services, applications, and peer groups are important forms of support. The difficulty may be in recognizing when help is needed.