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Health

07th Nov 2022

Letting teens drink alcohol at home won’t stop them binge drinking

HerFamily

Do you agree?

The myth that introducing teenagers to alcohol at home stops them from binge drinking has been dismissed by a new study.

Many parents believe that if they allow their children to drink in their company, it will deter them from going out and underage drinking with their friends.

A study published by a campaign in the UK called What’s The Harm, shows that parents should not give their children alcohol before the age of 18, and definitely not before they are 15 years old.

The survey showed that almost half (43 percent) of parents think it’s a good idea, however chief medical officer for England, Liam Donaldson says that it’s not healthy.

He told The Independent: “The medical advice is clear, no alcohol before 18 is the safest and best option and absolutely not before 15. It can affect brain development and is linked to mental ill health.”

Meanwhile, Shevills said in a statement: “We found that a lot of parents were not aware of official guidance around children, and were more likely to call on their own experiences growing up when making decisions about alcohol.”

What do you think? Have you ever let your child drink alcohol in your home?