Breaking the Chain: Alcohol’s Hidden Impact on Families

One in four of us fears a loved one drinks too much. Here’s why it matters and what you can do

When we think about alcohol problems, it’s easy to picture “someone else.” The person on the park bench or shop doorway. The headline about drug misuse. But the impact of alcohol and drugs is far closer to home than many of us realise.

A recent UK survey of 2,000 adults (commissioned by the Priory Group of Clinics) found:

1 in 4 people worry a partner, relative or friend drinks too much

1 in 6 are concerned about a loved one’s drug use

1 in 10 worry about their own drinking

These aren’t small numbers. They’re daily worries carried silently by people who don’t quite know what to do.

And while the government says drinking is going down, addiction specialists are seeing the opposite. Clinics report record numbers of people – especially women – reaching out for support. Alcohol-related deaths are at an all-time high.

What struck me most about the survey (published in the Guardian) is the ripple effect. Alcohol harm doesn’t just affect the person holding the glass. It spills into families, relationships, even across generations. In fact, 15% of people said addiction has impacted multiple generations of their family.

That might sound familiar. Maybe you grew up with parents who drank too much. Maybe you see yourself falling into the same patterns. Maybe you’re starting to notice that your own drinking leaves you feeling tired, anxious or ashamed and you’re wondering what life would look like if alcohol wasn’t part of it.

If you’re reading this and feeling a quiet tug of recognition, you’re not alone. Over a quarter of us are worried about someone else’s drinking and many are worried about their own. And yet, so many don’t talk about it because they don’t think it’s “bad enough.”

But you don’t have to wait for rock bottom to make a change. In fact, catching yourself in that grey area – where drinking is taking more than it’s giving – is one of the bravest, smartest things you can do.

The Priory has launched a campaign called Break the Chain to raise awareness about intergenerational addiction. And I think that’s a powerful message for all of us. We each have the chance to change the story for ourselves, our families and the people around us.

If alcohol is starting to feel less like a friend and more like a weight you’re carrying, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. Coaching can help you find new ways to cope, new habits to lean on and the confidence to see what life looks like alcohol-free.

If this resonates with you, let’s talk. Book a free discovery call and we can explore whether coaching might be the support you need to start writing a new chapter.