Why do parents allow their children to drink?
Since parents are the ones who teach their children a lot of things, with the exception of schoolwork, should they be the ones teaching their children how to drink responsibily?
Some parents allow their teenagers to drink, not hard liquor, but light things, such as wine or beer. They assume that if they drink with their family, teenagers may be less likely to binge drink when they are by themselves or with friends.
Many parents however argue that underage drinking in any way is dangerous, and allowing their children to drink is like telling them that it is alright to break the law.
The United States government have created a survey, trying to obtain information on how teenagers get their alcohol, and most of the times, the parents are the suppliers.
By the time teenagers turn 21, 86% of American teens have drunk alcohol at least once, and 50% are going to be binge drinking (2009 National Survey on Drug Abuse and Health). Teenagers are somewhat believing that as long as their parents are the ones giving them alcohol, somehow, the harmful risks of drinking are lifted.
Beck, Melinda. "Dad, I Prefer the Shiraz." The Wall Street Journal- Health Journal. The Wall Street Journal, 8 Mar. 2011. Web. 18 July 2012.
Parents and teenagers drinking- Maya
Reading this article, I personally think parents should not teach there children until they get to the age that drinking alcohols are permitted. Some might teach them how and what to drink. They might think that drinking at home with their parents would be safe. But I do not think so. Once children know how to drink, and know how it would be like if you drink, they might get to drink outside with no parents aside. If so, there may be accidents or drinking too much may harm their health.
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