Teenagers given alcohol by their parents more likely to be heavier drinkers, study says

Updated

Teenagers who are given alcohol by their parents are three times more likely to be heavier drinkers in their late teens than those from families which do not supply alcohol, a new study has found.

Researchers have surveyed nearly 2,000 families about the drinking habits of parents and their children.

The study, which took place over a four-year period, also found that the teenagers who were given alcohol at home were more likely to obtain alcohol from other sources by year 10.

Professor Richard Mattick, from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University of New South Wales, said many parents believed that introducing their children to alcohol could promote responsible drinking in later life.

"A lot of parents arguably or reportedly say they're doing it so they can teach responsible drinking," he said.

"But we're just finding that rather than moderating drinking, kids are drinking more.

"If their aim is to moderate their child's drinking, providing alcohol probably does the reverse."

Professor Mattick said there had been very poor data around the topic, and the findings of the study had not been anticipated by researchers.

They are still developing physically, emotionally, cognitively, that alcohol is a product designed for adults, and that young people are best avoiding alcohol for as long as possible. Australian Drug Foundation spokesman Geoff Munro

"It's quite plausible that trying to get your kids to drink in a responsible fashion can be a great idea," he said.

"It's just the evidence suggests that if you are trying to moderate their drinking, giving them alcohol actually does the reverse.

"What we are seeing is the rates of drinking are three times [what] you would expect if parents didn't give alcohol.

"It is important that parents be aware we're not telling them what they should or shouldn't do, but they should be aware that if they supply alcohol to their kids they are three times more likely to have a child that's drinking whole beverages than if they don't," he said.

"And it shouldn't surprise us that a permissive attitude is one that makes the kids think that, 'Well it's OK to drink, so then, well, I can drink more'."

Australian Drug Foundation spokesman Geoff Munro said other studies had shown that the earlier people start drinking, the more harm it can do.

"The National Health and Medical Research Council states that young people should avoid drinking, and to put it off as long as possible, at least until the age of 18," he said.

"They are still developing physically, emotionally, cognitively. Alcohol is a product designed for adults, and [the research states that] young people are best avoiding alcohol for as long as possible."

Results from the parental supply of alcohol study will be presented at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre's annual symposium in Sydney today.

Topics: alcohol, drug-use, health, alcohol-education, adolescent-health, university-of-new-south-wales-2052, australia

First posted