Risky drinking habits tracked back to parental supply of alcohol at teen parties

TEENAGERS whose parents buy them alcohol to drink at supervised parties are four times more likely to develop "risky" drinking habits, research shows.

Teen drinking

TEENAGERS whose parents buy them alcohol to drink at supervised parties are four times more likely to develop "risky" drinking habits, research shows.

Researchers will tell a public health conference in Adelaide today that giving teens alcohol to drink unsupervised, or under the watch of another adult, carries the same risk.

They also found parents were misguided in thinking that giving children small amounts of alcohol at home fostered a safer attitude towards drinking.

Lead author Dr Conor Gilligan said parents often gave their children alcohol to drink with other young people to prevent them "from being socially outcast" but this behaviour was "linked with a big increase in the likelihood of risky drinking".

Researchers from the University of Newcastle surveyed 530 students between the ages of 13 and 17.

Almost every one had tried alcohol (93 per cent), while two-thirds had drunk at least a glass and 40 per cent had consumed more than four drinks on a single occasion, which was defined as a 'risky' level of drinking.

Of those who drank at moderate or risky levels, 30.5 per cent were given alcohol by their parents and 42 per cent by their friends.

The proportion of teens who drank large amounts of alcohol rose "sharply" from 7.9 per cent in Year 8 to 77 per cent in Year 12.

Co-author Associate Professor Kypros Kypri said giving children alcohol in a controlled environment at home did not increase risky drinking behaviour.

However, the belief that it would improve their attitudes to drinking was "probably not true".

Dr Gilligan said peer pressure affected many parents' decision to give their children alcohol.

"We suspect they often over-estimate the permissiveness of other parents because of what their children tell them is normal," she said.

Under current law, minors cannot buy booze from stores or be supplied alcohol in a public place but they can drink at private homes.

Earlier this year Opposition youth spokesman John Gardner proposed changes to liquor licensing laws to Parliament which would make the provision of alcohol to minors illegal anywhere without parental consent.

Health Minister John Hill is considering expert advice on new measures to reduce the risk of alcohol-related harm to young people.