Everyone can make a difference for children and young people growing up with adults who drink too much alcohol. This is the message of the awareness week Spela roll, which is organized annually around Valentine’s Day in Sweden. The Spela roll week in 2025 will take place from February 10–16.

“The purpose of the Spela roll awareness week is to spread knowledge and encourage conversations about how parents’ alcohol consumption can negatively impact children. There is strength in having many people talk about these issues at the same time, and we at CAN are proud to organize this week together with other civil society organizations,” says Ida Ömalm Ronvall, communications officer at CAN, which coordinates the week.

These issues are not only highlighted in Sweden during this week. Around the world, similar initiatives take place. For example, in the United States and the United Kingdom, Children of Alcoholics Week has been observed for several years during this same period. In Sweden, Spela roll was held for the first time in 2011.

Two of the organizations co-organizing Spela roll are Unga Örnars Riksförbund and KSAN (The Cooperation Council of Women’s Organizations on Alcohol and Drug Issues).

“For us at Unga Örnar, participating in Spela roll is an obvious choice. This week is important because we need to highlight the insecurity that children may feel around alcohol,” says Tomas Aronsson Ylipää, Secretary-General of Unga Örnars Riksförbund.

“As an umbrella organization, our focus is primarily on preventive work in alcohol and drug-related issues. As part of that work, it is also important to acknowledge children and young people who have someone in their lives who drinks too much. We engage in Spela roll so that these children and young people feel less alone in their situations, but also to encourage adults to take action—not just during Spela roll week, but throughout the year. We want to encourage them to ask questions and to be there as a supportive presence,” says Jenny Andersson, development officer at KSAN.

During the week of February 10–16, a series of free online seminars will be held on topics such as why adults fail to act when children are in distress, Sandviken municipality’s approach to early detection, how to handle difficult conversations (and whether they really have to be so difficult), and how fiction can provide comfort and recognition for children and young people. The seminars are open to anyone interested.

More information, posters, and materials for municipalities, schools, preschools, and organizations working with children and young people can be found at duspelaroll.se. The website also includes ready-made social media posts with tips on how to make a difference. Those who want to highlight the week on social media can use the hashtag #spelaroll2025.

Organizers of Spela roll!:
Centralförbundet för alkohol- och narkotikaupplysning | Hela Människan | Junis | Nätverket De Glömda Barnen Västra Götaland | Unga Örnar | KSAN

Find more from https://duspelarroll.se/ (Sweden, February 2025)