Media Release: School leaver celebrations, teenagers and alcohol - parents can make a difference
Teenagers who consume alcohol are less likely to engage in high risk drinking if they know their parents disapprove of them doing so, according to new research.
Conducted by the National Drug Research Institute at Curtin University and published in the Journal of Substance Use, the research examined the drinking behavior of more than 500 Australian 17-18 year olds at peer-based social events known to attract the heaviest drinkers, including school leaver celebrations.
The research found teenagers whose parents made it clear they disapproved of them drinking beyond moderate levels were less likely to drink at high risk levels (more than four standard drinks on one occasion).
Parents who supply their teens with alcohol, thinking it would control the amount consumed for example, were often mistaken as parental supply was commonly ‘topped up’ by friends and other sources. One quarter of young people at school leaver celebrations reported being supplied alcohol by their parents with about half of those who reported parental supply ‘topping up’ from other sources.
Lead researcher Dr Tina Lam said the findings strengthened the view that it was vital for parents of teenagers to be involved and to communicate their expectations around drinking to their children.
Dr Lam said despite more young people choosing not to drink in recent years, alcohol-related harms in this teenage group were very high, driven by those engaging in high risk drinking but parents could play a vital role in reducing this harm.
“This study found parental disapproval of risky drinking was the most reliable protective factor against heavier alcohol consumption, and that it was effective even in environments where young people said it felt like everyone around them was drinking, such as school leaver events,” she said.
“Parents may supply their child with alcohol with the best intentions. However, this and other research suggests young people often drink more than just what their parents supplied.
“Instead, parental supply of alcohol is likely to only be topping up what young people already have access to through their friends. Young people at school leaver celebrations who were supplied with alcohol by their parents, for example, still drank an average of 15 standard drinks a day at the event.
“Longer-term studies also suggest children interpret parental supply as parental approval for drinking and are more likely to engage in regular high risk drinking and experience more alcohol-related harms.
“The research evidence suggests speaking to your children about any concerns you have around alcohol use and coming up with a plan if they encounter an alcohol or other drug issue, particularly at an event like school leaver celebrations, reduces the risk of alcohol-related harm for young people.”
Media contact:
Dr Tina Lam, Research Fellow, National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University
Phone: 08 9266 3170, Email: Tina.Lam@curtin.edu.au
Communications Officer, National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University
Phone: 0414 682 055, Email: ndri@curtin.edu.au
Posted on: 31 Oct 2017
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