Report Many Parents Believe that Letting Young Children Taste Alcohol Discourages Later Use, Study Finds

[tom_mai78101]

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – One in four mothers believe that letting young children taste alcohol may discourage them from drinking in adolescence and 40 percent believe that not allowing children to taste alcohol will only make it more appealing, according to a new study by RTI International and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The study, published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, explored whether parents purposefully introduce children to alcohol at a young age and, if so, why. It also examined parenting practices that impact children’s opportunity to try alcohol.

“The idea that early exposure to alcohol can discourage a child’s interest in drinking has a strong foothold among some parents of elementary school aged children,” said Christine Jackson, Ph.D., a social ecologist at RTI International and the study's lead author.

The study is based on data collected from interviews with 1,050 mothers and their third-grade children. The participants were recruited for a four-year intervention trial that will examine the long-term implications of children’s early sipping experience.

Adult participants in the study were asked about their alcohol-specific attitudes and practices as well as their opinions on providing tastes of alcohol to their children.

Many Parents Believe that Letting Young Children Taste Alcohol Discourages Later Use | Newswise

One in four mothers believe that letting young children taste alcohol may discourage them from drinking in adolescence and 40 percent believe that not allowing children to taste alcohol will only make it more appealing, according to a new study by RTI International and the University of North...

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[Hatebreeder]

My parents made me drink Grappa and Raki when I was small. Still drinking alcohol

So, I disapprove

 

[camelCase]

I approve because alcohol tastes like shit to me =/
I only drink if everyone else around me is.

 

[Accname]

I actually agree with it partially.
Alcohol doesnt taste very well to children as far as i know.
Because any children you give it to will not like it. (talking about beer or whine here)
And i can very well believe that not giving it to them will make them want it even more. Thats how children work.
If you give them the alcohol instead and they throw up because it tastes horrible for them they will keep that in mind.

 

[FireCat]

Well, maybe it depends on what type of "alcohol" you give to the child to taste. Doesn't it?
Hmm leaves a bitter taste in their mouths, so to speak hehe

I approve because alcohol tastes like shit to me =/
I only drink if everyone else around me is.

If you don't like it, why do you drink then. eh?

 

[camelCase]

It's easier than having them hassle you to drink.
To me, it's the lesser of the two evils.

 

[Slapshot136]

whine here

im not surprised.. look at places in Europe where kids start drinking wine/beer at 12-14 years of age - they actually don't get drunk like people here in the U.S. that take it too far..

 

[Accname]

im not surprised.. look at places in Europe where kids start drinking wine/beer at 12-14 years of age - they actually don't get drunk like people here in the U.S. that take it too far..

Teenagers get pretty drunk here as well. But not too often.
In school there was some guys who got really really drunk like once or twice a month.
Always on parties of course.
Once they talked one of them into jumping heads up into the lake. From the pier. The water was merely knee-deep at that point. He was pretty lucky.
But when they brought him into the hospital everything went okay except for the fact he lost his bike and jacket at the lake since nobody picked it up and the next morning it was gone.

That was good times back in school.

 

[Hatebreeder]

I approve because alcohol tastes like shit to me =/
I only drink if everyone else around me is.

Well, you don't have to be disappointed You're actually living a healthier life than most other people. I'm talking about being drunk though. People say that one glass of wine a day lengthens your life span.
However, if you know yourself good enough and dose the alcohol well, you're pretty much gonna have a good time If it tastes good to you, you'll be in a win-win situation

As other people have already stated, I also agree with children having a taste of alcohol, as it may hinder them trying it out later in their life. The alternative would be to forbid them everything until their urge of curiousity lets them do stupid things.

 

[Fatmankev]

Yeah, I tried this with my son to keep him from going after my brews. Wasn't expecting him to like it. Now I have to stand in the kitchen behind the baby gate when I'm drinking or he's climbing all over me trying to get it...

 

[Slapshot136]

Teenagers get pretty drunk here as well. But not too often.

from what I have seen, Europeans
1. have a stronger resistance to alcohol, such that they don't get so drunk in the first place
2. tend to get drunk MUCH less often (as in actually drunk, not just a couple of drinks)
3. are more responsible with their drunk friends, as in they will actually take care to get them to their home rather then laugh at them
4. bike or take the public transportation home as opposed to driving themselves..
5. don't drink 21 shots on their 21st birthday

 

[Accname]

from what I have seen, Europeans
1. have a stronger resistance to alcohol, such that they don't get so drunk in the first place
2. tend to get drunk MUCH less often (as in actually drunk, not just a couple of drinks)
3. are more responsible with their drunk friends, as in they will actually take care to get them to their home rather then laugh at them
4. bike or take the public transportation home as opposed to driving themselves..
5. don't drink 21 shots on their 21st birthday

I dont know if you can generalize it that much but i have to say we drink 21 shots on our 16th birthday instead xD.
Nah, actually, at that age you fall down after only about 10.

And i guess the rest is dependant on the persons character and not place of birth.

 

[FireCat]

And i guess the rest is dependant on the persons character.

Well, It depends also on the "type and quality" of alcohol. Doesn't it?

 

[Accname]

Well, It depends also on the "type and quality" of alcohol. Doesn't it?

Why would it? Do you think harder alcohol would make you rather drive while you are drunk? Or take more care of your friends?

 

[tom_mai78101]

Well, It depends also on the "type and quality" of alcohol. Doesn't it?

You gotta admit. Rubbing alcohol is not good for you.

 

[FireCat]

You gotta admit. Rubbing alcohol is not good for you.

Of course it's not good. Well, these types of alcohol can give you "life threatening consequences". I'm sure that doesn't sound so appealing. lol

 

[Varine]

My dad let me sip his drinks. Now? Alcoholic.

 

[WildTurkey]

Well cigarettes taste horrible to anyone for the first time they take it, however millions of people continue to do it in later stages of their lives... Furthermore, where does this stop? Do we give our kids cigarettes at an early age? cocaine? ecstacy? heroine? I am opposed.

 

[Nyph]

Alcohol, while addictive, is no where near as addictive as cigarettes(or heroin, or cocaine).

 

[tom_mai78101]

I think it's best to let children know that only when their age has met the minimum requirement, they will be allowed to drink alcohol. And when they are just barely close to that minimum age (but still young), let them drink some cocktail, or other light alcoholic drinks (drinks with 1% or less alcohol).

Source: My experiences.