Half of parents condone underage drinking
ONE in seven parents believe it is okay for children as young as 15 – and even younger – to drink alcohol in their home, alarming new research reveals.
And half think it is acceptable for children to drink at home before the age of 18.
The latest shocking revelations about our drink culture comes as the health authorities warned families that alcohol should play no part in today’s Junior Cert celebrations.
The HSE has urged parents to organise celebrations at home or send children to events where alcohol isn’t served.
Meanwhile, medics have warned that allowing youngsters to drink can lead to alcoholism, along with mental and physical health problems in later life.
Junior Cert drink alert from medics
The latest research by Behaviour & Attitudes on behalf of DrinkAware also found that parents are unwilling to talk to their children about alcohol use. The number of parents who think it is okay for a child under 15 to drink at home was 14% this year compared to 9% in 2015.
However, one medical expert warned that they should be trying to prevent their children from drinking for ‘as long as possible’. GP Dr Liam Twomey said the research pointed to a worrying trend among parents, with over half believing it is acceptable for their child to drink at home before the legal age.
Asked if parents felt it was a good idea to introduce children to alcohol at home before 18, 41% felt it was a good idea awhile 22% were unsure. Around 37% felt it was a bad idea.
The research, involving 503 parents of children between the ages of 11 and 15 from across Ireland, revealed that only six out of ten parents are confident talking to their children about alcohol. Drinkaware also appealed to parents to talk to their children about alcohol ahead of today’s exam results celebrations.
Asked why they allowed children to drink at home, 68% said they should be introduced to it in a controlled, supervised environment. As many as 66% said it would take away the mystery, while 65% said it would help parents to monitor them.
But Dr Twomey, chief medical officer at Drinkaware, said: ‘All evidence shows that the younger young people start drinking too much, the more likely they are going to have a problem with alcohol later on in life. Arm yourself with the information, we know we don’t live in a perfect world but we’re really asking the parent to inform their kids, get the conversation going.’
He added: ‘A lot of young people nowadays are aware of the physical side effects of drinking too soon and too much. The young person’s brain is developing up to the age of 25, if they’re drinking at the age of 15 they have ten years of development ahead, and doing damage to themselves. If there’s anyone who has doubts beforehand, say to your kids, “no alcohol before the age of 18.”’ He said alcohol at a young age can lead to an increased risk of mental and physical health problems.
MANY people believe that to allow a 15year-old to drink alcohol is totally irresponsible. Indeed, according to a new Behaviour & Attitudes survey, that would appear to be the view of the vast majority of parents. Nonetheless, the survey also shows that 14% of parents have no objection when it comes to a 15-year-old having a drink. Obviously there are many questions to be asked around this whole issue. Is 15 an acceptable age at which to introduce our children to alcohol, in a gradual way and in the safety of the home environment, or is it simply too young?
Whatever the answer to that particular question a bigger concern arises in the light of the results of this survey and it is this: that parents are increasingly unwilling to talk to their children about alcohol.
If parents are failing to address the issue and shirking their responsibility in this important area, then how are children to understand what is acceptable when it comes to alcohol consumption, and what isn’t?
For it is when issues are not discussed, openly and honestly, that things so often go awry.
Whatever parents believe about age limits, it is incumbent upon them to help educate their children. Youngsters must grow up in full possession of the facts. They must be told, therefore, about the dangers of excessive drinking and also, where appropriate, about the moderate health benefits of modest alcohol consumption.
Ultimately it is education that is the key. And when it comes to alcohol, it is the duty, therefore, of all parents to talk to their children and equip them with the relevant facts.