Tips For Parents To Prevent Teen Drinking

The habit of alcohol use begins in adolescence and though fewer Australian teenagers are drinking alcohol more needs to be done to curb the drinking habits. More than 2800 Australian students aged 12-17 took part in a survey of drinking behaviour, conducted by researchers from the University of Adelaide's School of Psychology and the Population Health group at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI).

"Harmful alcohol use is a serious problem in Australia, and drinking patterns are often first set in adolescence," says lead author Jacqueline Bowden, behavioural scientist and Manager of Population Health Research at SAHMRI, and researcher with the School of Psychology, University of Adelaide.

"With alcohol contributing to four of the top five causes of death in young people, and a leading cause of cancer in our community, it's important for us to better understand drinking behaviour among young people so we can help to prevent or delay it.

Parents Should Take A Stand

One of the major messages from our study is that parents have more influence on their teenagers' decisions regarding alcohol than they probably realise. Parental behaviour and attitudes towards alcohol really do make a difference, and can help prevent children from drinking at an early age.

"Our evidence shows that that parents have a significant and substantial role to play, to help their kids develop a healthier relationship with alcohol early. Parents can set the boundaries and create clear expectations." Ms Bowden says parents should:

• Discuss alcohol use with their children, and the fact that not everyone drinks.
• Get to know upcoming activities, such as parties, and set expectations for behavior.
• Reconsider drinking in front of children, as most alcohol is consumed by adults at home.
• Have alcohol-free events.
• Avoid binge drinking.
• Don't buy alcohol for adolescents or provide it at parties.

"We often forget that alcohol is the most widely used recreational drug in Australia and has an enormous cost on families. It is important that parents set the right example," Ms Bowden says.

Advertisement

Ms Bowden says we need to address the issue of supply to teenagers. "Many parents believe providing their children with alcohol in the safe environment of their home teaches them to drink responsibly. However, the weight of evidence suggests that this increases consumption, and is not recommended.

Risk of Alcohol Use

Advertisement

Lincoln Size, Chief Executive Cancer Council SA, told that the evidence is clear that alcohol use is a cause of cancer. Any level of alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing an alcohol-related cancer; the level of risk increases in line with the level of consumption.

"We know that alcohol causes cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, bowel in men and breast among women. There is also probable evidence that alcohol increases the risk of bowel cancer in women, and liver cancer.

"Cancer Council SA recommends that to reduce their risk of cancer, people limit their consumption of alcohol. For individuals who choose to drink alcohol, Cancer Council SA recommends that they drink only within the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines for alcohol consumption," he said.

The results also found that those adolescents who thought they could buy alcohol easily were more likely to drink regularly. The issue of availability - including price - and marketing of alcohol in the community is a major hurdle to be overcome.

"Alcohol is more affordable in Australia than it has been in the past 30 years, and the number of premises selling alcohol in Australia has increased substantially in the past 15 years. Throw advertising and sports sponsorship into the mix and we have some very strong messages that alcohol is the norm," Ms Bowden says.

Source-Eurekalert