Your child is underage, and you allowed them to have one or two alcoholic drinks at their birthday party, but still under your supervision? You let them try it—better you than a stranger in the park or café. You are at a party with friends and think it’s cute to take a picture of your child with a bottle of alcohol in their hand?
We hope you have not found yourself in any of the situations mentioned (and do not plan to), because children as young as ten begin experimenting with alcohol. While everyone already knows that peer pressure, boredom, and curiosity are common reasons why children and young people try alcohol so early, research has shown that parents are also part of the statistics. Many parents believe they are acting responsibly, that they have everything under control, and that this is the best way to protect their child. However, that very first sip of alcohol you allowed them to taste in the safety of your home can be a trigger for children to very quickly try a second, third, or hundredth time.
It is concerning that nearly 42 percent of parents approve of their children consuming alcohol, with a third of them usually drinking at family gatherings, and one in four students saying they drink at home, according to a report by the Ombudsman for Children of RS. Other research shows that one in six parents gives alcohol to children under 14, when their bodies and brains are not yet fully developed. Approximately 20% of people who drink between the ages of 12 and 14 reported receiving alcohol from their parents in the past month. Yes, it is not pleasant to be part of negative statistics. It has been shown that rules are useful even for children who have a genetic predisposition to developing alcohol dependence.
What to do? Develop clear rules and boundaries regarding underage alcohol consumption. When parents establish clear rules and expectations that there is no alcohol, their children are less likely to start drinking. Do not support drinking among children. Your attitude and behavior toward this influence your child. Avoid joking about underage drinking or drunkenness or showing acceptance of alcohol use among children in any other way. Never serve alcohol to minors, not just your own child, but also their friends. It is better to be a good parent than a cool parent.
Delaying the start of alcohol consumption greatly reduces the negative and long-term impact of alcohol on the brain. The longer children delay using alcohol, the less likely they are to develop related problems. Therefore, it is important to help a child avoid any use of alcohol. Most teenagers are exposed to alcohol, and there are no “typical” children or young people who drink. All children are at risk, and all parents can reduce that risk.
