Alcohol-free Childhood Action Network

Alcohol-free Childhood Action Network (ACAN) is a forum for all those with a passion for reducing the harm to children that comes from the alcohol use of others, the marketing and social pressures to drink and the impact of becoming a drinker at an early age.

The Scottish Government will be consulting on alcohol marketing restrictions in 2020 and this will be an initial focus for the network.

Children have a right to be protected from harmful substances and to be supported to make healthy life choices. ACAN members will join the ranks of the unfearties!

ACAN members come from a variety of backgrounds, public health and health promotion; children’s rights advocates; child, family and carer support organisations; teaching, peer support and community education; social and youth work; health visiting; addictions services and research.

The First Meeting of ACAN

On 5 December 2019 thirty likeminded people from public health, research and third sector health organisations met to scope out the potential for this new action network. A short report is being prepared for January 2020 and current members are being consulted on the terms of reference of the group.

Read report from the fist ACAN event held in December 2019.

Here are the presentations from the first meeting:

Children's Parliament Report on Alcohol by Gemma Crompton (AFS)

Parental Drinking by David Robertson and John Holleran (AFS, SFAD)

Parental drinking in Scotland, Dec 2019: a report of findings from a survey and expert enquiry into parental drinking carried out in 2017.  

Children's Parliament Investigates: an alcohol-free childhood, September 2019. How P6 and P7 children perceive the impact of alcohol on their lives.