Acceptability of alcohol supply to children - associations with adults' own age of initiation and social norms.
Issue addressed The aim of this study was to investigate predictors of adults' perceived acceptability of introducing alcohol to children less than 18 years of age. Methods An online survey. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between demographic characteristics, alcohol consumption, and social norms and adults' own age of initiation. Results Alcohol consumption, age of initiation and perception of the acceptability of drunkenness were all correlated with the acceptability of introducing children to alcohol. The strongest predictor was adults' own age of initiation. Conclusions Adults who began drinking before the age of 18, and those who drink more heavily, are more likely to perceive the provision of alcohol to children as acceptable. So what? Policy and research should continue to focus on and monitor efforts to delay adolescent alcohol initiation and reduce consumption levels among adults. A shift in awareness and perceptions about alcohol use among adults has the potential to influence initiation and heavy drinking among adolescents.
University of Newcastle, School of Medicine and Public Health, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
Conor
C
Gilligan
School of Rural Health, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Building 64, Monash University, Vic. 3800, Australia.
Bernadette
B
Ward
School of Rural Health, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Building 64, Monash University, Vic. 3800, Australia.
Rebecca
R
Kippen
School of Rural Health, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Building 64, Monash University, Vic. 3800, Australia.
Penny
P
Buykx
Cancer Council New South Wales, 153 Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo, NSW 2011, Australia.
Kathy
K
Chapman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D066262:Social Norms; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires