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One in four mothers give their child a taste of alcohol
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
Every fourth mother believes that if a small child is given a taste of alcohol, it will discourage him from drinking alcohol as a teenager.
A completely different opinion is held by 40% of women, who believe that if children are strictly forbidden from even approaching alcoholic beverages, this will only excite them and increase their interest in the forbidden.
These are the results of a survey conducted by scientists from the University of North Carolina and the research institute RTI International.
The specialists' goal was to find out why and for what purpose some parents introduce their children to alcohol from childhood. The experts also analyzed the methods of upbringing in such families.
"The idea that early exposure to alcohol may hinder a child's future interest is particularly prevalent among families with children in elementary school," said Christine Jackson, a sociologist and lead author of the study.
All of the scientists’ conclusions are based on surveys and questionnaires of 1,050 mothers whose children are in third grade.
The study participants talked about their alcohol addictions and expressed their opinions on whether it is possible to let children try alcohol. It turned out that about a quarter of the respondents had already allowed their children to try alcoholic beverages. In their opinion, in this way they simply “remove” the unattainable attractiveness of the forbidden fruit from alcohol.
40% are categorically against children trying alcohol, because, in their opinion, this will only push them to drink it in the future.
22% believe that it is better for a child to try a sip of alcohol at home than to drink too much in the company of peers.
26% said it might be better to introduce a child to alcohol at home, but definitely not at age 10.
"These results suggest that parents mistakenly expect that children who drink small amounts of alcohol at home, under supervision, will do the same in the company of their peers, that is, will not exceed what they consider a safe dose," the authors of the study comment. "Further research in this area is needed to understand where parents get this opinion from."
About 33% of the children who took part in the experiment told the experts that they had already tried beer, wine or other alcohol.
Researchers found a strong link between children's drinking and their parents' attitudes toward it. Most of those who had already tried alcohol knew that it was viewed positively at home.
This is a very serious problem, because drinking alcohol at an early age is the main risk factor for the development of alcohol addiction in adolescence.
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