At the end of the day, during the meal or in the evening, it’s a habit for some parents: they have a glass of alcohol, in front of their children. What should we think of this way of doing things? Can this practice have an impact on the child? The answers of Dr Stéphane Clerget, child psychiatrist and author of the book “Psychic vampires” published by Le Livre de Poche.
We know it well: alcohol is in moderation! But beyond your own consumption, what impact can it have on those around you, particularly your children? This is the question we asked Dr Stéphane Clerget, child psychiatrist.
Drinking alcohol in front of your children can make them anxious
According to a study by the British Institute of Alcohol Studies, even moderate alcohol consumption can make children anxious. Information confirmed by Dr Stéphane Clerget.
“Drinking alcohol in the presence of your children is a bad idea, because it increases the risk of domestic accidents and it changes our behavior. It’s very destabilizing for a child, who will no longer recognize their parent and may then find them strange.” explains the specialist.
Is there a difference between having a drink and being drunk?
If drinking alcohol is not recommended, is there a difference depending on the quantity of alcohol drunk? “No,” according to the doctor.
“Drinking alcohol in large quantities and becoming ill from it traumatizes children, because they are shocked by the state in which their parent finds themselves, especially if it happens regularly. These are children who will not generally drink it, even as adults. But a child who sees his or her parent drinking, regularly, as an aperitif or at the table, one or more glasses of alcohol, even without becoming drunk, this trivializes consumption. analyzes our expert.
“These are children who, on the contrary, will tend to start drinking younger.“. Generally speaking, therefore, it is better to avoid drinking alcohol in front of your children.
