Ahead of Christmas: 8 in 10 see intoxication around children

Karolina Dahlbeck Nobel

16.12.2025 - Almost all Swedes believe it is common for adults to become intoxicated in the presence of children during Christmas. This is shown in Systembolaget’s latest survey conducted as part of the initiative Childhood without a hangover. Children’s Rights in Society (Bris) also reports that calls from children increase during the Christmas holidays.

Christmas is one of our most cherished holidays, centered on family togetherness and children. It is also a time when many people consume alcohol. In Systembolaget’s survey, 79 percent say they believe it is common for adults to drink to intoxication around children during holidays such as Christmas.

“All adults who celebrate Christmas in the presence of children have a responsibility for their own alcohol consumption and for how it affects those around them. Christmas should be about safety, warmth, and joy for children. Yet we know that many children have their Christmas negatively affected by adults who drink too much,” says Karolina Dahlbeck Nobel, Head of Public Health at Systembolaget.

Difficulty communicating with vulnerable children and intoxicated adults

Many adults hesitate to intervene when they see a child being harmed by an adult’s drinking. Nearly half (46 percent) say they do not know how to start a conversation with a child who is affected by a parent drinking too much alcohol. In addition, just over one in three find it difficult to confront another adult about their alcohol consumption.

“Children are sensitive to changes in mood and notice early when alcohol affects an adult. That change can make them feel insecure, even when everything seems calm to us as adults. They may wonder, ‘Why does dad sound different now?’ or ‘Why does mum not feel as present anymore?’ That is why it is important for adults to keep this in mind when drinking around children. Alcohol consumption must never become a child’s problem or responsibility,” says Karolina Dahlbeck Nobel.

Calls to Bris increase during the Christmas holidays

Systembolaget runs the initiative Childhood without a hangover together with Bris, World Childhood Foundation, Maskrosbarn, and Trygga Barnen, with the aim of reducing the negative impact of adults’ drinking on children. Last year, Bris received more than 3,300 calls from children during the Christmas holidays, an increase of 23 percent compared to the previous year. Several of these calls concerned intoxicated adults.

“Around Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, more children seek support from Bris due to adults’ drinking. This includes children who already live in vulnerable situations with adults who often drink too much, as well as children who are not usually vulnerable but who start questioning adult behavior during the holidays. Most people understand that adults’ drinking affects children, but more people need to dare to be the one who actually acts when a child is being harmed,” says Anneli Öhrling, counselor at Bris.

Advice on how adults can act when children are negatively affected by intoxication during Christmas

Take initiative. Do not assume that someone else has already acted. Dare to be the person who steps in, preferably immediately.It does not have to be perfect right away. If it feels difficult to know how to communicate, start by making contact. A simple hello is a good beginning.Ask the question and ask again. Ask how the child is doing. If the answer is delayed or does not come, continue asking gently.Involve the child. Talk together about what the child wants and what kind of support feels right.Be a safe presence. Your calm and presence mean more than you might think. Be an adult who can be trusted.Seek help if needed. If a parent has a serious alcohol problem and similar situations have occurred before, seek external support. This may involve family and friends, social services, support organizations, or emergency services, depending on the situation.

About the survey

The survey maps adults’ alcohol consumption and its impact on children from two perspectives: how respondents themselves were affected as children, and how they act as adults when a child is harmed by adult drinking. The survey was conducted by Verian on behalf of Systembolaget and the child rights organizations behind Childhood without a hangover. It is based on 4,415 interviews in the Sifo Panel with people aged 25 to 79, collected between August 20 and 29, 2025. The results are nationally representative of the general public.

About Childhood without a hangover

The initiative aims to make a difference for children who are negatively affected by adults’ alcohol consumption. It is a collaboration between Systembolaget, Bris, Maskrosbarn, Trygga Barnen, and World Childhood Foundation. More information is available at www.barndomutanbaksmalla.se