Parental supervision can curb underage drinking

Teens in high schools often succumb to peer pressure to take alcohol and end up as heavy drinkers in college. But, a new study has found a way out - parental monitoring.

Researchers in the United States have claimed that parental vigil as well as certain parental practices can curb high school drinking and, as a result, may have a protective effect on students' alcohol consumption at college.

According to lead researcher Amelia Arria of Centre for Substance Abuse Research at University of Maryland College Park, "The transition to college marks a high-risk period for escalation of alcohol consumption".

"Parents and prevention practitioners can benefit from evidence that points to specific parenting practices that might help reduce the risk for heavy drinking, while at the same time allow for appropriate levels of autonomy that are critical for young adult development," she said.

In fact, underage drinking is linked to a number of negative outcomes in teens, including suicide, high-risk sexual activity and an increased chance of alcohol dependence.

In their study, the researchers interviewed over 1,200 students. They assessed parental monitoring and student alcohol consumption (in drinks per day) in high school using surveys in the summer before the students attended a large public university.

Students were followed up with a personal interview in their first college year to assess their alcohol consumption over the past year.

The researchers found that higher levels of parental supervision were associated with lower levels of high-school drinking, independent of sex, race and religion, the ScienceDaily has reported.

Although parental monitoring did not directly influence alcohol consumption in college, they found evidence that high school drinking mediates the relationship between the two factors. Thus, the higher the drinking in high school, the higher the drinking in college.

"These results call into question the opinion of many parents who think responsible drinking should begin in high school. Further research is needed to explore the extent and type of parental supervision that may reduce students' drinking in college," according to the researchers.