Holidays 'driving mums to drink'

Updated 18.49 Fri Aug 03 2007

Keywords: children, drinking, mothers, alcohol

The pressure of looking after the kids and providing constant entertainment during the holidays is reportedly driving mothers to drink.

One chain of alcohol treatment clinics, with centres in Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire, has recorded a rise in the number of women admitted each August.

The clinic says that an evening glass of wine once the kids are in bed can soon become a bottle of wine a night

Lynwode Manor says that as children can no longer safely disappear off with their friends for hours on end, mums are under more pressure to constantly monitor their children and provide them with activities and entertainment.

The clinic says that an evening glass of wine once the kids are in bed can soon become a bottle of wine a night.

Warning signs include the children being put in bed earlier, to allow for more time to drink; alcohol being taken on family trips disguised as a soft drink and regularly seeking out other mums who also enjoy a daytime drink.

Director of the Lynwode Manor Group, Sue Allchurch, said: "Women will often realise they are drinking too much and go to their doctor for help.

"However, problem drinkers are not always completely honest about the amount they drink and could end up with inappropriate medication such as anti-depressants."