Steven Wade is a family law advisor (McKenzie Friend) with nearly 20 years of experience helping people represent themselves in court. Having been through the system personally and supported thousands of others since, he knows what it’s like to face the stress, confusion, and pressure of doing it alone. This blog shares practical insights that empower you to take control of your case — without the legal jargon or the hefty solicitor’s bill.
Alcohol : The Answer Without A Question
Family Law Assistance
The only alternative to a solicitor.
Drug and Alcohol Abuse allegations as a weapon
Allegations are common. When it comes to substance abuse there are several scenarios. This includes:
- One parent accusing the other of alcohol abuse with a view to seek advantage during proceedings.
- A parent’s behaviour and ability to safeguard is impaired though alcohol misuse.
- Both parents are presenting with problematic behaviour around the children, and Social Services have been involved following police incidents.
Factors a court will consider if these allegations are made
- Is there evidence of alcohol misuse? Are there police reports or social services and incidents witnessed by the school?
- Are the accusations without basis?
- How has the parent’s drinking impacted on the child’s wellbeing?
The power of the court
The court will require evidence of alcohol and drug abuse. This is easily obtained by a court order for a hair follicle test. It’s possible for a test to provide a `snap shot’ of substance use/misuse or one that provides data over a period of time. If the parent has admitted to a history of alcohol and drug abuse, they will need evidence of treatment from a drug and alcohol counsellor. How solid is the evidence presented? Evidence does not consist of screenshots of text messages, Facebook posts and gossip. The court may not even consider these scraps of paper as supporting evidence.
Statements from Your Children
The testimony of the child is evidence when it is part in a CAFCASS Section 7 report or a Safeguarding report from Social Services. It is not fair on your child to badger them to produce negative statements about their other parent. This is at best confusing, and at worst coercive and heavily frowned upon by both the court and any childcare professional.
What to do if the allegations have some merit…
Do not panic and feel trapped by the past. Consider NOW is the time to give some serious commitment into ameliorating the situation. An honest admission is not a sign of guilt or weakness. Demonstrating how serious you are about being a well-rounded parent will be more valuable to the court, and your case. Taking action against these issues prove your committment to your parental responsibility. To prepare for court, please see our tips from Family Law Assistance
Every single second, of every single day is a chance to turn it all around…
If you think you need help, get IT.
There is so much help both in the real world and the virtual world. Find support for any dependency issue. Read online about what constitutes an addiction issue. Speak to your GP. Join websites like Drinkaware or Soberistas and talk to parents who have been in similar situations. There are many people out there who have had to hit a brick wall, face themselves and realise the need for change. Success is the greatest evidence of all and carries way more weight that endless denials and having to continually deal with someone who is determined to prove how bad you are. Start by being good to yourself, for yourself.
Drinking alcohol is not a crime.
It’s worth remembering however that is not unreasonable for anyone (including a parent!) to drink alcohol – whether as a separated parent or not. It’s just part of the normal `weft and warp’ of life in many and just something else to balance with other spects of life. The court will understand this.
This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Still need some help? Here’s what to do next…
About the author…
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