Teen Drinking Habits Linked to Parental Supply

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

Researchers have found 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”.