The ALC-VIOL (Violence, Accidents and Injuries experienced by Children and Young People living in Families with Alcohol Problems) research project was concerned with domestic violence and abuse experienced by children and young people living in families with alcohol problems.

The project had three main aims. First, it provided a rare and valuable opportunity to talk to children and young people (aged between 12 and 18), in several European countries, about their experiences of living with parental alcohol misuse and parental violence. We wished to hear from young people what it was like for them to live in an environment where both of these parental problems were present. Second, ALC-VIOL also aimed to use the data gathered from these interviews with children and young people to offer guidance on the development of intervention and prevention strategies for supporting these young people. Third, we wished to examine different countries’ policy positions on co-existing alcohol problems and domestic abuse within the family.

Finally, given that these issues are not adequately prioritised across Europe, ALC-VIOL aimed to make a significant contribution by developing and strengthening National Networks of specialists in these areas (alcohol misuse, violence) so that they could raise awareness of the issues of parental alcohol misuse and parental violence, and of the needs of children living in such circumstances.