The program of Finland´s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government includes several reforms that shift the focus of alcohol regulation away from social and health policy. The most concerning of these reforms is the proposal for alcohol home delivery, which risks increasing alcohol consumption in homes where children are the invisible victims.
The latest proposed reform would allow express couriers to deliver alcohol to homes. According to a Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) survey, 75% of respondents do not trust that age limits or intoxication levels can be effectively monitored in home deliveries. Numerous international studies have reached similar conclusions. As alcohol consumption increases in society, so do the harms to families.
The “Invisible Children” campaign highlights the impact of these proposed legislative changes on children. The campaign emphasizes the harm caused to children by their parents’ alcohol use. As part of the campaign, organizations are collecting signatures for a petition aimed at ensuring children’s rights are considered in alcohol policy.
Stronger alcoholic beverages in grocery stores might not be a problem for you or your family. For invisible children, they are. Invisible children bear a significant portion of the harms caused by alcohol use in our country. These are children in families where alcohol is overused. At home, they retreat into invisibility to escape a parent’s drinking. In society, invisible children are not talked about, and their voices are not heard, even though there are over 89,000 of them.
Protecting children from alcohol-related harms must be central to Finnish alcohol policy. Invisible children need to become a visible part of the alcohol policy debate.
It is often thought that harm only occurs in families with heavy alcohol users. However, the majority of children suffering from their parents’ alcohol use are in ordinary, working families where alcohol-related problems are not immediately apparent.
In Finland, approximately 89,000 children have at least one parent who has had a serious substance abuse problem requiring treatment before the child reaches adulthood. This figure represents as much as 8.7% of all minors. Most of these parents have an alcohol problem. The actual number of children living with a parent’s substance abuse problem is likely higher.
Registry data can only identify the most severe cases and those seeking and receiving treatment. According to the “Fragile Childhood” survey, about one in four adult respondents reported experiencing excessive substance use in their childhood home. Estimates from different countries suggest that the number of children suffering from their parents’ alcohol problems ranges from 19% to 32%. For example, in Sweden, the proportion is estimated to be around 20%.
Additionally, according to THL’s Drinking Habits Survey, alcohol negatively affected the family life of 140,000 people in some way.
About the supporting organizations:
A-Clinic Foundation is an expert organization on addictions, aiming to prevent and reduce substance abuse and dependency harms. The foundation focuses on building a more humane society through direct interaction, online assistance, and addiction research. a-klinikkasaatio.fi
EHYT ry (The Finnish Association for Substance Abuse Prevention) is a nationwide expert organization in preventing substance abuse and gambling-related harms. It also serves as a civic organization, providing a humane arena for volunteer activities, peer support, and human interaction in various environments. The work combines efforts from member organizations across Finland, volunteer activities, and the expertise and knowledge of its staff. ehyt.fi
The Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters is a civic organization that aims to secure children’s rights to favorable growth conditions and safe development, support parenting and families, and prevent domestic violence. The goal is to ensure everyone’s safety. ensijaturvakotienliitto.fi
For more information, visit the Invisible Children campaign page: www.nakymattomat.fi. (Finland, June 2024)
Alcohol Awareness 