Children who get a taste of their parents' wine now and then may be more likely than their peers to start drinking by high school, according to a new report in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
Researchers found that, of 561 students in a long-term study, those who'd "sipped" alcohol by sixth grade were five times more likely than their peers to down a full drink by the time they were in high school. And they were four times more likely to have binged or been drunk.
The findings do not prove that early sips of alcohol are to blame, said lead researcher Kristina Jackson, Ph.D., of the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University in Providence, R.I.
"We're not trying to say whether it's 'OK' or 'not OK' for parents to allow this," Jackson said.
Still, she noted, some parents do believe in the "European model"—the idea that introducing kids to alcohol early, at home, will teach them about responsible drinking and lessen the "taboo" appeal of alcohol.
"Our study provides evidence to the contrary," Jackson said.
The findings are based on 561 Rhode Island middle school students who were surveyed periodically over three years. At the beginning of sixth grade (around age 11), almost 30 percent of students said they'd ever sipped alcohol. In most cases, their parents provided it—often at a party or other special occasion.
By ninth grade, 26 percent of those early "sippers" said they'd ever had a full alcoholic drink, versus less than 6 percent of their peers. What's more, 9 percent had either gotten drunk or binged—compared with just under 2 percent of "nonsippers."
Of course, there are many factors that influence underage drinking, Jackson noted. Her team tried to account for as many of those factors as they could—including parents' drinking habits and any history of alcoholism, as well as kids' disposition (such as whether they tended to be impulsive and risk taking in general).
Even then, Jackson said, there was still a connection between early sipping and risky drinking by high school.
According to Jackson, it's possible that those little tastes of alcohol send young kids a "mixed message."
"At that age, some kids may have difficulty understanding the difference between a sip of wine and having a full beer," she explained.
That said, she stressed that parents shouldn't be alarmed if they've already let their child have a taste of wine.
"We're not saying your child is doomed," Jackson said.
But, she added, the findings do highlight the importance of giving kids "clear, consistent messages" about drinking and making sure they can't get a hold of any alcohol kept in the house.
Explore further: Parents may be putting kids on path to drinking
More information: Jackson, K. M., Barnett, N. P., Colby, S. M., & Rogers, M. L. (March 2015). The prospective association between sipping alcohol by the sixth grade and later substance use. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 76(2), 212-221.
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Children who get a taste of their parents' wine now and then may be more likely than their peers to start drinking by high school, according to a new report in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
Researchers found that, of 561 students in a long-term study, those who'd "sipped" alcohol by sixth grade were five times more likely than their peers to down a full drink by the time they were in high school. And they were four times more likely to have binged or been drunk.
The findings do not prove that early sips of alcohol are to blame, said lead researcher Kristina Jackson, Ph.D., of the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University in Providence, R.I.
"We're not trying to say whether it's 'OK' or 'not OK' for parents to allow this," Jackson said.
Still, she noted, some parents do believe in the "European model"—the idea that introducing kids to alcohol early, at home, will teach them about responsible drinking and lessen the "taboo" appeal of alcohol.
"Our study provides evidence to the contrary," Jackson said.
The findings are based on 561 Rhode Island middle school students who were surveyed periodically over three years. At the beginning of sixth grade (around age 11), almost 30 percent of students said they'd ever sipped alcohol. In most cases, their parents provided it—often at a party or other special occasion.
By ninth grade, 26 percent of those early "sippers" said they'd ever had a full alcoholic drink, versus less than 6 percent of their peers. What's more, 9 percent had either gotten drunk or binged—compared with just under 2 percent of "nonsippers."
Of course, there are many factors that influence underage drinking, Jackson noted. Her team tried to account for as many of those factors as they could—including parents' drinking habits and any history of alcoholism, as well as kids' disposition (such as whether they tended to be impulsive and risk taking in general).
Even then, Jackson said, there was still a connection between early sipping and risky drinking by high school.
According to Jackson, it's possible that those little tastes of alcohol send young kids a "mixed message."
"At that age, some kids may have difficulty understanding the difference between a sip of wine and having a full beer," she explained.
That said, she stressed that parents shouldn't be alarmed if they've already let their child have a taste of wine.
"We're not saying your child is doomed," Jackson said.
But, she added, the findings do highlight the importance of giving kids "clear, consistent messages" about drinking and making sure they can't get a hold of any alcohol kept in the house.
Explore further: Parents may be putting kids on path to drinking
More information: Jackson, K. M., Barnett, N. P., Colby, S. M., & Rogers, M. L. (March 2015). The prospective association between sipping alcohol by the sixth grade and later substance use. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 76(2), 212-221.
Medical Xpress on facebook
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Why some mothers (wrongly) let kids try alcohol
(HealthDay)—Many parents wrongly believe that allowing young children to taste alcohol may discourage them from drinking when they're teens, a new study finds.
Parents may be putting kids on path to drinking
Teenagers whose parents supply alcohol in early adolescence are three times as likely to be drinking full serves of alcohol at age 16 as children in families that do not supply alcohol, a major new study ...
Parental messages that stress no alcohol do get through, survey finds
(HealthDay)—Making it clear to your teen that underage drinking is unacceptable is a highly effective way to reduce the risk that he or she will use alcohol, a new survey shows.
Alcohol warnings from parents matter
Parenting practices and restrictions when it comes to alcohol use can make a difference with adolescent drinking, and there is considerable value to consistent and sustained parental attitudes about drinking, ...
Drunk driving not the only way alcohol leads to teen deaths, study says
(HealthDay)—Less than one-third of the 4,700 annual underage drinking-related deaths in the United States result from road crashes, according to a new study.
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E-cigarettes are being accessed by teenagers who are both smokers and non-smokers
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