'We need to rethink what is safe when it comes to parental alcohol use,' say experts

Article excerpt

Researchers at the University of Agder and Oxford Brookes University conducted a systematic review finding that heavy drinking, even occasional bouts, can impair parental capacity. "Every time you drink heavily, even if you do so infrequently, it can affect your role as a parent," says doctoral fellow Barbara Carvalho, who led the study. The findings suggest experts may need to recalibrate public health guidance around alcohol consumption for parents, moving beyond simple frequency measures to account for the intensity of drinking episodes and their downstream effects on child safety and parental functioning.