Middle-class parents are risking their children’s health by allowing under-14s to have alcohol with meals, experts warn today.
Educated
people and those with professional jobs are far more likely to let
youngsters drink. They believe this will help prevent them
binge-drinking as they grow older.
But this is a myth, says a report by researchers from University College London.
Those
who drink in adolescence tend to do worse at school, are more likely to
become alcoholic adults and have shorter life expectancy, evidence
suggests.
Report lead author Professor
Jennifer Maggs said: ‘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.
‘However, there is little research to support these ideas.’
Researchers analyses data from a study that tracked 10,000 British children born in 2001.
When they were 14, the children were
asked whether they had drunk alcohol and, in a separate interview,
their parents were asked whether they had allowed their child to drink.
Overall,
17 per cent of parents said they had allowed their child to drink,
while 50 per cent of the teenagers said they had consumed alcohol – with
or without their parents’ permission.
But parents’ views differed widely according to their social, professional and educational standing.
Parents
with ‘routine’ or ‘semi-routine’ jobs were 43 per cent more likely to
allow their child to drink before the age of 14 than those who were
unemployed.
Those who drink in adolescence
tend to do worse at school, are more likely to become alcoholic adults
and have shorter life expectancy, evidence suggests
Those
with ‘managerial’ and ‘professional’ jobs were 66 per cent more likely
and those who ran a business or were self-employed were 82 per cent more
likely.
For every additional stage of
education a parent had completed, from GCSE to A-level to undergraduate
degree to postgraduate degree, they were 10 per cent more likely to let a
child drink, says the research, published in the Journal of Adolescent
Health.
‘That is a myth,’ she said.
‘Street drinking is more of a problem in the UK than Europe, but heavy
drinking at home is still a problem.’
Katherine
Brown, chief executive of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, said: ‘The
Chief Medical Officer recommends that an alcohol-free childhood is best,
with children not drinking any alcohol before the age of 15.
‘This
is important guidance because alcohol can harm children given their
bodies and brains are not yet fully developed. 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.’
Dr
Richard Piper, chief executive of Alcohol Research UK, said: ‘While
parents may feel that giving their children small amounts of alcohol may
help them develop a healthier relationship with alcohol, evidence
suggests that this is not the case.’(Daily Mail)
