Kids who try alcohol more likely to binge drink

New research contradicts the assumption that introducing children to alcohol at a young age will teach them to drink responsibly, suggesting they are in fact more likely to binge drink as teenagers.

New research suggests children who are allowed to try alcohol before age 11 are more likely to binge drink as teenagers

Researchers analysed 560 children in Rhode Island, US, of which approximately three in 10 students admitted having tried alcohol before they were 11, usually supplied by their parents.

By the time they were around 14 or 15-years-old, these children were four times more likely to have been drunk and 3.7 times more likely to have tried binge drinking.

The study, called The prospective association between sipping alcohol by sixth grade and later substance use, was published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

Lead researcher Kristina Jackson of the centre for alcohol and addiction studies at Brown University highlighted that while some parents believe in the “European model” of introducing children to alcohol at an early age to lessen the “taboo” appeal of alcohol, the study “provides evidence to the contrary”.

“Our findings that early sipping is associated with elevated odds of risky behaviour at high school entry dispute the idea of sipping as a protective factor,” Jackson said.

“Offering even just a sip of alcohol may undermine messages about the unacceptability of alcohol consumption for youth.”

She continued to explain that little tastes of alcohol send youngsters “mixed messages”, but stressed parents should not be concerned if they have already allowed their child to try alcohol.

“At that age, some kids may have difficulty understanding the difference between a sip of wine and having a full beer,” Jackson added.

“We’re not saying your child is doomed.”