A new study conducted by Flinders University has provided deeper insight into the attitudes and beliefs of Australian parents regarding the supply of alcohol to their underage children. This research, detailed in the Health Promotion International journal, focuses on a survey of over 1,000 Australian parents with children between the ages of 12 to 17.
Lead author, Professor Jacqueline Bowden, Director of the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) at Flinders University, explains the motivation behind the study. “We wanted to understand parents’ attitudes and perceptions about alcohol consumption in adolescence, and how these contribute to the provision of alcohol to their children,” she stated. Professor Bowden noted the critical role parents play, as they are often the primary source of alcohol for Australian adolescents who engage in drinking.
The study shed light on the substantial impact parental behaviour has on adolescent drinking habits. Parents commonly hold the belief that providing alcohol is a safe method to encourage ‘responsible drinking’. However, evidence contradicts this belief, indicating that such parental supply boosts the likelihood of risky drinking behaviours among adolescents.
Professor Bowden pointed out a noteworthy aspect of the study involving the concept of a ‘social clock’, which examines universally accepted ages for various social behaviours, including drinking. “Worryingly, more than 40 per cent of parents surveyed nominated an acceptable drinking age of 17 years old or younger despite the recommendation being 18 years or older,” she revealed.
The research also identified a disconnect between parents’ perceptions of community norms and their personal practices. Although only 11 per cent of parents admitted to supplying alcohol for unsupervised use, 45 per cent believed it was a common practice among their peers. This suggests that parents perceive community attitudes towards supplying alcohol as more permissive than their own.
The survey brought forth several key findings:
– Parents are more inclined to supply alcohol if they believe other parents do the same.
– The belief that underage drinking is acceptable increases the likelihood of parents supplying alcohol.
– Parents who see alcohol as beneficial are more likely to supply it to adolescents.
– Conversely, those who perceive alcohol as harmful are less likely to do so.
– Addressing these factors could influence parents’ intentions regarding alcohol supply.
Dr Ashlea Bartram, co-author of the study, emphasised the shift in teens’ attitudes towards alcohol, noting that more adolescents are choosing to abstain from drinking. “It’s not the social lubricant it may have been when parents were teenagers,” she remarked. Dr Bartram recommended that parents engage in open discussions about alcohol, setting clear rules but remaining open to dialogue.
The full findings of the survey can be found in the article, ‘Australian parents’ attitudes, perceptions, and supply of alcohol to adolescents: A national cross-sectional survey’ by Jacqueline Bowden, Ashlea Bartram, Nathan Harrison, Christina Norris, Susan Kim, Simone Pettigrew, Ian Olver, Rebecca Jenkinson, Marina Bowshall, Caroline Miller and Robin Room, which was published in Health Promotion International journal. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daae173
For parents seeking advice or support regarding adolescent drinking, resources are available through the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline at 1800 250 015.
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