Purdue News

March 2, 2004

Parents don't make underage drinking safer by providing 'haven'

Parents are doing more harm than good when they provide a "safe place" for underage drinking, says a Purdue University expert who studies alcohol abuse.

"More parents are choosing to allow teenagers to drink in their home," says Julia Chester, assistant professor of psychological sciences. "These parents, who mean well, think they cannot keep their child from drinking alcohol, so supervised underage drinking is the way to prevent their children from drinking and driving."

Chester says not drinking and driving is only one aspect of responsible drinking.

"Parents are sending a message that it is OK to drink as much as you want as long as you don't drink and drive," she says. "That is not healthy. Studies show that teenagers' brains are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol, and teenagers who drink alcohol may have a higher risk for alcohol abuse and alcoholism later in life. Parents have a responsibility to talk to their children about what it means to drink responsibly when they are of age.

"Unfortunately, parents themselves often do not know what it means to drink responsibly. For example, more alcohol advertisements on television say, 'Please drink responsibly,' but most of us have no idea what that means."

Chester says talking about responsible drinking includes explaining that moderate consumption levels can vary for people based on many factors, including individual differences in sensitivity to the impairing effects of alcohol. The legal blood alcohol content level for driving ranges from .08 to .10 in different states, but a smaller amount of alcohol could impair some people, she says.

"Try to be aware of the effects alcohol has on your daily activities," Chester says. "Is it affecting your work or social life? Are you late to class or work because of hangovers? These are some of the responsible drinking issues that parents need to talk about."

Statistics also show that binge drinking is becoming more frequent on college campuses. One study showed that 39 percent of the college students surveyed had consumed five or more drinks in a row during the last two weeks, which is considered alcohol abuse.

CONTACT: Chester, (765) 494-6863, jchester@psych.purdue.edu