Mums Turning To Drink To Cope With Pressure

Some women are turning to alcohol to deal with the pressure of being "supermums", putting their children at risk of depression and anxiety. Turning Point, a charity that helps people with drink and mental health problems, says alcohol misuse within families is an "escalating concern".In a report entitled Bottling It Up: The Next Generation, the organisation warns 2.6 million children in the UK are living with a parent who drinks at dangerous levels.Between 2010 and 2011, 12,248 people used Turning Point's alcohol treatment services. Nearly half (5,326) were parents, of whom more than a third (1,925) were mothers.The average alcohol consumption of parents was 30 units per day - 24 for mothers and 33 for fathers.This is the equivalent of 15 glasses or three bottles of wine or up to 15 pints of beer - almost 10 times the recommended limit.The report said: "A key issue was that mothers often felt under pressure to be 'perfect' and that alcohol was a way of coping with the demands of motherhood."Some said a lack of support from their partners was a trigger for their drinking."Others were drinking at least three nights a week and consuming more than 70 units - the equivalent of nearly eight bottles of wine." One 35-year-old mother said: "I was trying to be Superwoman and I was too stubborn to ask for help."I was having two bottles of white wine a night, then I switched to vodka because people wouldn't smell it on me."The report found children's mental health could be affected by their parents' drinking, with some developing eating disorders, depression and even psychosis in adulthood. Children living with heavy drinkers are also more likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol at an earlier age, the report added. Of 100 parents surveyed, 28% said their drinking meant their children often either missed school or found it difficult to concentrate at school.More than half (55%) believed it had led to increased anger, anxiety and depression in their offspring.