With the festive season fast approaching, Australian families are being urged to reconsider their approach to alcohol after new data revealed parents remain the primary source of booze for teenagers who drink.
Parents as the Primary Source
Alarming new figures show that almost half of Australian teenagers who consume alcohol obtain it from their parents. This statistic has triggered urgent warnings from drug and alcohol experts as households prepare for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Professor Jacqueline Bowden, Director of the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction, emphasised that the holiday period is a critical time for parents to reflect on the long-term drinking habits they model for their children. "The season is about connection, not consumption," Professor Bowden stated. "Research shows parental supply increases the likelihood of risky drinking, and the cues we model at home really matter."
Survey Reveals Parental Attitudes
A Flinders University study released late last year confirmed that parental supply is the most common source of alcohol for adolescents. This persists despite national health guidelines recommending young people avoid alcohol until at least the age of 18.
The national survey of 1197 parents uncovered concerning attitudes:
- More than 40 per cent believe an acceptable drinking age is 17 or younger.
- 11 per cent admitted to supplying alcohol for unsupervised use by their teenagers.
- Nearly half said they believed other parents were doing the same.
Experts warn that these practices carry significant risks. Alcohol is a group 1 carcinogen and a major contributor to illness and death among Australians aged 15 to 24.
Zero-Alcohol Products Are Not a Harmless Fix
Researchers caution parents against assuming that zero-alcohol products are a safe alternative for teenagers. Experiments indicate that teens exposed to advertising for these products respond almost identically to ads for full-strength alcoholic drinks.
The branding and imagery trigger strong alcohol-related associations, which may inadvertently reinforce drinking culture rather than reduce it. This effect is particularly potent when products are designed to look and taste like alcohol and are sold in spaces where traditional alcohol is restricted.
Professor Bowden suggests practical steps for families during the festivities: "Families don't need to avoid alcohol altogether. But they can celebrate without normalising it — by keeping alcohol away from youth-focused activities and choosing drinks that don't mimic alcohol branding."
She recommends offering genuinely alcohol-free options, setting clear expectations, and having open conversations with teenagers about why delaying alcohol use is safer for their health and development.
The warnings come amid broader concerns, including data showing more than 300,000 Australian women regularly drink at very high-risk levels, highlighting gender-specific health risks.
Support for families is available through the National Alcohol and Other Drugs Hotline on 1800 198 024.
