Parents remain key source of teen drinking, sparking fresh warnings as the festive season looms
Almost half of Australian teenagers who drink alcohol say they got it from their parents, prompting new warnings as families prepare for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Drug and alcohol experts said the holiday season is a critical time for parents to consider the clues long-term drinking habits give to children and teens.
Professor Jacqueline Bowden, director of the National Center for Addiction Education and Training, said small changes could help, including offering truly alcohol-free options that do not mimic alcohol labeling, setting clear expectations and talking openly to young people about why it is safer to delay alcohol use.
“The season is about connection, not consumption,” Professor Bowden said.
“Research shows that parental support increases the likelihood of risky drinking, and the cues we model at home are really important.”
A Flinders University study published late last year found that despite national health guidelines recommending young people avoid drinking until they are at least 18, the most common source of alcohol for teenagers is still a parental source.
The national survey of 1,197 parents found that more than 40 percent believed the acceptable drinking age was 17 or younger, while 11 percent admitted supplying alcohol for unsupervised use.
Nearly half said they believed other parents did the same.
Researchers said parents should not assume that zero-alcohol products are a harmless alternative for teenagers.
Experiments show that young people exposed to zero-alcohol ads respond almost the same to alcoholic beverage ads, with branding and imagery triggering alcohol-related associations.
This can strengthen rather than diminish drinking culture, especially when products look and taste like alcohol and are sold in places where traditional alcohol is restricted.
Alcohol remains a group 1 carcinogen and a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality among Australians aged 15 to 24 years.
Gender-specific risks also arise, with more than 300,000 Australian women regularly drinking at very high risk levels.
“There is no need for families to abstain from alcohol completely,” Professor Bowden said.
“But they can celebrate without normalizing it, keeping alcohol out of youth activities and choosing drinks that don’t mimic the alcohol brand.”
Support is available through the National Alcohol and Other Drug Helpline on 1800 198 024.
