1 February 2019
Researchers:
University of Bristol: Dr Georgie MacArthur, Dr Siobhan Mitchell, Professor Rona Campbell
- Overall, the sample of parents were aware of the risks and consequences of alcohol use and expressed broad disapproval of alcohol use among young people. However, adolescent alcohol use was viewed as inevitable, and set in a context of an accepting and tolerant drinking culture and perceived permissiveness among other parents.
- Such contexts led many to preferentially choose a balanced approach, which weighed disapproval against consistency with wider culture and parental behaviour, support for autonomy of the child and avoidance of social sanctions, while aiming to protect the parent-child relationship, maintain an open, communicative and trusting relationship, and ultimately limit risk and minimise harm. Various strategies employed to this end included care around role modelling, gradual introductions to alcohol, boundaried provision, clear risk reduction messaging and parental monitoring.
- Findings suggest that messages for parents need to highlight the consequences of early initiation and parental provision of alcohol. Our study also suggests that interventions are needed to address socio-cultural norms by generating a downward shift in community-level consumption, to alter the accepting context in which parents are required to navigate adolescent alcohol use.
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