Kids allowed to sip parents' booze start drinking earlier and are more likely to binge, says study

A little taste of booze as a pre-teen might seem harmless, but it's not a good idea, say researchers

Children who are allowed to have a sip of alcohol before they are 11 are more likely to binge drink as teenagers, according to a new study.

Researchers followed 561 American students for three years and found that those who’d been able to sip alcohol at a young age were five times more likely than their peers to have had a full drink by the time they were in high school (which starts at 14 or 15 in the USA) and FOUR TIMES more likely to have been drunk or have binged on booze.

The authors believe this study provides evidence that the "European model" forintroducing kids to alcohol early at home so that it's not seen as taboo (therefore they become more responsible around alcohol) doesn't work.

"Our study provides evidence to the contrary," says Kristina Jackson from the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies.

Despite this, she says: "We're not trying to say whether it's 'OK' or 'not OK' for parents to allow this."

The study found that at the age of 11, almost 30% of students had sipped alcohol - and the booze had usually come from their parents at a party.

Kids who had sips of booze were more likely to become binge drinkers as teenagers

When the same kids were interviewed three years later - aged 14 - 26% of them said they'd had a full alcoholic drink - versus 6% of those who hadn't had any booze sips.

Meanwhile 9% of them had either got drunk or binged - compared with just 2% of those who had never had a sip.

It's important to note that in the USA the legal drinking age is 21 and alcohol sales are much more tightly controlled than in the UK.

Plus there are many other factors that influence underage drinking - including whether parents drinking habits and history of alcoholism and the impulsiveness of the children.

Jackson believes that allowing tastes of alcohol sends youngsters mixed messages.

"At that age, some kids may have difficulty understanding the difference between a sip of wine and having a full beer," she explained.

In the UK, one in four parents would give their 14 to 17-year-olds an average of 9 units of alcohol to celebrate at a post-exam party - equivalent to an entire bottle of wine.

Britain’s Chief Medical Officer advises that children under the age of 15 should not be given any alcohol.

Meanwhile Dr Paul Wallace, chief medical adviser to Drinkaware, said that an alcohol-free childhood is the best option.

"Health risks associated with drinking underage include the possibility of brain and liver damage, increased risk of accident and injury, potential for lower educational attainment, increased risk of being involved in violence and increased likelihood of ending up in vulnerable or dangerous situations," he said.

"It’s best to talk to your child about the risks associated with drinking. As a parent, you have more influence than you might think.

"Your child is likely to come to you first for information and advice about alcohol, and you can help shape their attitudes and behaviour towards alcohol by being a role model for responsible drinking.”