Middle class parents fuelling teen drinking, new figures show

Middle-class parents are giving their children alcohol before they turn 14 in order to introduce them to “responsible” drinking, a new survey shows.

A study of 10,000 UK children found parents who were white and well educated were more likely than any other group to tolerate adolescent drinking.

Experts have warned, however, they risk harming their children and that there is scant evidence that early exposure to alcohol promotes responsible consumption.

The data revealed 17 per cent of UK parents let their children have a drink before the age of 14, with around half of all minors having tried alcohol before that age.

But there was no link found between parents who drink heavily and an increased likelihood of allowing children to drink.

Evidence suggests alcohol can harm children both physically and mentally if taken before they are sufficiently developed.

Government advice recommends no drinking before the age of 15.

Last night academics said it was “worrying” that some groups of parents are not heeding the advice.

Analysing data on more than 10,000 children born in the UK at the turn of the century, the researchers at University College London and  Pennsylvania State University examined reports of parents’ drinking habits and attitudes to drinking.

They then linked this to information on family structure, employment status and parents’ educational attainment.

“Parents of socially advantaged children may believe that allowing children to drink will teach them responsible use or may in fact inoculate them against dangerous drinking,” said Professor Jennifer Maggs, who led the research.

“However, there is little research to support these ideas.”

Previous surveys have shown that British teenage girls are among the most drunken in Europe, with around half in a study of 15 and 16-year-olds admitting to getting intoxicated at least once a month in 2012.

The new report, which is published, reveals that parents of white children who were employed, had more educational qualifications, and who drank alcohol themselves, were more likely to allow their adolescent children to drink than unemployed parents, those with fewer educational qualifications, and ethnic minority parents.

Parents who abstained from alcohol tended not to allow their children to drink.

The figures showed that by age of 14, almost half the children said they had tried more than a few sips of alcohol, whereas three years earlier only about 14 per cent had done so.

Dr Katherine Brown, Chief Executive of the Institute for Alcohol Studies, said: “It is worrying to see that this advice may not be getting across to parents, who are trying to do their best to teach their children about alcohol.

“We need to see better guidance offered to parents via social marketing campaigns and advice from doctors and schools.

“Parents deserve to know they can have a positive impact, and can reduce health harms associated with young people drinking.”

In 2015 AGE UK warned that harmful drinking had become a “middle-class phenomenon”.

The charity said more successful people were often able to mask the extent of their drinking because they ate well and exercised.

The research suggested that better off groups in society were also more likely to ignore public health messages.

Dr. John Larsen, Director of Evidence & Impact at Drinkaware, said: “Alcohol can harm children’s development so the best childhood is one that is alcohol free.

“Parents and guardians have an important role to play in helping children and young people learn about alcohol and Drinkaware research shows that 13-17 year olds turn to the adults in their lives for help and advice on drinking and its effects.”