Are Parents the First Line of Defense in Preventing Children from Buying Alcohol?
Alcohol consumption among children and youth is the most widespread socially accepted behavior that also represents a risk factor for a range of physical, psychological, and social problems. Alcohol is often the first addictive substance (alongside tobacco products) that children encounter, frequently within their own family environment. Among youth, alcohol use is influenced by peer pressure, fear of exclusion, the desire to prove themselves, low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. The easy availability and affordability of alcohol—often cheaper than non-alcoholic beverages—combined with a tolerant societal attitude towards drinking, further encourage young people to consume alcohol.
Research shows that alcohol use during adolescence significantly increases the likelihood of alcohol use in adulthood. Additionally, alcohol consumption in youth is linked to other health-risk behaviors such as smoking, use of psychoactive substances, and engaging in risky sexual behavior. It is also associated with poor academic performance, underdeveloped social skills, and a tendency toward deviant behaviors.
According to a 2024 study by the Association for Addiction Prevention NARKO-NE, 20.3% of surveyed youth aged 13 to 17 consume alcohol. Youth participating in focus groups cited peer conformity and coping with life problems as the most common reasons for drinking. Among students who drink alcohol, the average age at which they began purchasing it independently was 14.
More than half of young people primarily obtain and consume alcohol in cafés (56%), followed by stores (23%), clubs (16%), and about 5% at home.
As part of the Mystery Shopper initiative—an ongoing campaign by the Youth Education Center in Travnik—results have consistently shown that legal measures are largely ignored. A staggering 84% of shopkeepers and retail chains violate the law by selling alcohol to minors. This research was conducted in 300 shops across Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 12-year-old elementary school students volunteering as undercover shoppers.
So, despite legal regulations aimed at protecting the health and well-being of youth, these measures are not being enforced in practice.
There are many responsible parties, but it is crucial for parents—those closest to children and youth—not to condone or support this behavior. More than half of students who consume alcohol (65.6%) report that their parents are aware of it, indicating a level of tolerance towards underage drinking.
Parents often want to be friends with their children, but their primary role is to be parents and positive role models. This includes building a strong, supportive relationship characterized by open communication and trust. It is important to respect a child’s growth and independence while simultaneously setting clear boundaries. In such a relationship, children develop a healthy self-image, making it easier for them to resist peer pressure and strive to meet parental expectations in order to maintain the relationship.
In our culture, alcohol is present “from cradle to grave”—every major personal or community event is marked by alcohol consumption. It is not easy for parents to protect their children from the negative influence of peers, media, and the wider community or to correct the mistakes that may happen along the way. Nevertheless, this responsibility remains theirs, as the parental attitude toward alcohol has a significant impact on how children view it.
Why Is It Important to Delay the First Drink?
The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) shows that as many as 42% of students had their first alcoholic drink at age 13 or younger. Delaying the initiation of alcohol use significantly reduces the long-term negative effects of alcohol on the brain. The longer a child postpones drinking, the less likely they are to develop alcohol-related problems later in life. That’s why it’s important to help children avoid any alcohol use. Most teenagers are exposed to alcohol, and there is no “typical” child or young person who drinks.
Young people often don’t believe that drinking could harm their health or lead to addiction. However, for a developing brain, alcohol can hinder cognitive and emotional development—effects that are often difficult or impossible to reverse later in life. This part of the brain is responsible for critical thinking, decision-making, and regulating desires and emotions. While young people may drink less frequently than adults, they tend to consume larger quantities in shorter periods. This pattern can cause memory blackouts and unconsciousness. In one study, one in five older adolescents who had ever consumed alcohol reported alcohol-induced blackouts.
This pattern of binge drinking is particularly dangerous because it often leads to drunkenness, which is frequently accompanied by negative consequences such as hospitalization, engagement in other risky behaviors, and more.
Data from the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism show that four out of ten people who start drinking at age 15 will develop alcohol dependence later in life. While adults may take 12 to 15 years of alcohol use to develop dependency, it takes only five years for a 20-year-old and as little as six months for a 15-year-old.
Adolescence is a time of intense psychological and physical changes, marked by insecurity and instability, and a constant questioning of identity. Intoxication is a source of potentially risky behavior that can lead to fatal consequences, including drunk-driving accidents, risky sexual behavior, unintended pregnancies, and physical altercations or acts of vandalism.
Azra Halilović
Research on gambling, internet use, and habits related to tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana consumption among children and youth in three cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2024) is available here.
