You can receive independent, expert advice on alcohol treatment for yourself or friends and family by telephoning DryOutNow.com on 0845 370 0203

A friend or relative of someone who is drinking heavily often recognises that this has become a problem before the person themselves. If you are in this situation, do not hesitate to call now for immediate confidential advice and support.

New research has shown that a child's drinking habits are strongly influenced by their parents.

Dr Shawn J Latendresse led a study of nearly 5,000 Finnish teenagers and found that in many cases they followed their parents' example when it came to drinking alcohol.

He argued that teenagers may be less likely to drink if their parents monitor them, but warned that excessive discipline could also push a teenager to drink.

The study, details of which were published in this month's Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, found that children were either influenced directly or indirectly by their parents' attitude to alcohol.

Researchers found that the teenagers' drinking habits generally correlated with those of their parents. In the case of direct impact, they would straightforwardly follow the example set by a parent who drank excessively.

But they also found that some of the teenagers saw a tendency to drink too much as an indication of lax parenting, which also meant that they were more likely to drink because their parents were not monitoring their behaviour enough.

Earlier this month home secretary Jacqui Smith announced plans to give new powers to police to confiscate alcohol from teenagers drinking in public.

Article published on 14/02/2008 by DryOutNow.com

DryOutNow.com provides highly practical help for people with alcohol problems, their friends and relatives. DryOutNow.com also provides free resources for healthcare professionals such as medical information and alcohol treatment guidelines.

• 'Tis the season to be jolly? ...... read
• Programme to deter youth alcohol use also reduces conduct problems ...... read
• Genetic markers identified for alcohol response in UCSF Gallo study ...... read
• Current alcohol and licensing policy could be making things worse for young drinkers ...... read
• Make Scotlands roads safer - reduce drink driving limits, says BMA Scotland ...... read
• Are you a binge drinker? BMA Scotland calls for compulsory labelling of alcoholic drinks ...... read
• Les Ferdinand kicks off project to help those with drug and alcohol problems ...... read
• Ability to quit smoking may depend on ADHD symptoms, researchers find ...... read