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CAN invites Sweden to “play a role” for children living among drinking problems
- Nordic Alcohol and Drug Policy Network
- 17 hours ago
- 2 min read
10.02.2026 - Everyone can play a role for children and young people who grow up with an adult who drinks too much. That is the message during the awareness week Play a role, which is held every year around Valentine’s Day. In 2026, Play a role takes place on 9 to 15 February.
Young people at a bus stop
Everyone can play a role for children and young people who grow up with an adult who drinks too much. Adobe Stock
“Growing up with an adult who drinks too much is more common than many people think. But there is also a lot you can do to support children and young people in that situation, and we want to spread knowledge about that too,” says Tommy Chau, coordinator at CAN (the Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other Drugs).
CAN arranges Play a role together with a number of other civil society organisations.
During the week of 9 to 15 February, digital seminars will be held where participants, among others, can meet the screenwriter and actor Paloma Winneth, who will talk about making art out of difficult experiences, and the researcher Peter Larm, who has studied outcomes for children who take part in support groups.
“We also encourage others, for example associations and municipalities across the country, to organise activities during the week, and many do. It can be anything from baking a Play a role cake with young people at a youth centre to inviting guest speakers,” says Tommy Chau.
One concrete tip for municipalities is to use the week as a reason to send messages to guardians via the municipality’s school app and explain what you can do if you are worried about a child.
But what does it mean to “drink too much”? “In this context, we take a child perspective on that answer. Simply: If the child thinks it is too much, then it is too much,” says Tommy Chau.
On duspelarroll.se there is information, posters, and tips on materials and what a municipality, school/preschool, or an organisation working with children and young people in their free time can do during the week. There are also ready made social media posts with tips on how you can play a role.
Anyone who wants to highlight the week on social media is encouraged to use the hashtag #spelaroll2026.
These issues are not only highlighted in Sweden during this week. Initiatives take place worldwide. In, for example, the United States and the United Kingdom, Children of Alcoholics Week has been held during this week for several years. In Sweden, Play a role was held for the first time in 2011.
Play a role is arranged by: The Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAN) | Hela Människan | Junis | KSAN | The network “De Glömda Barnen” Västra Götaland | Unga Örnar
Spela roll - https://duspelarroll.se/
