Tags:
alcohol
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violence
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street
By ANNIKA SMETHURST
PARENTS and licensed venues have been called on to take stronger action when it comes to responsible drinking among youth.
Senior lecturer at Monash’s School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine Pam Snow said one of the most important issues around drinking behaviour was the question of access and availability.
“There is good evidence to show readily-available alcohol, both through price and accessibility, leads to problems with excessive alcohol use, particularly in the context of young people,” she said.
“Parents have a significant influence on their children’s alcohol consumption and we know parents are a major supplier of alcohol to young people.
“But there is also the responsibility of the
licensed venue to act
responsibly.”
In Australia, the average age of introduction to alcohol for young people is between 14 and 15 years of age and it is getting lower.
Dr Snow said adolescents and young adults tended to be prone to risk taking, especially in the company of peers.
“Parents sometimes believe they have trust in their sons and daughters but they need to realise behaviour changes when they are among their peers,” she said.
A popular attitude among many parents is to serve alcohol from a young age at home with the idea it will help children avoid alcohol abuse in later years. Dr Snow said that was not always the case.
“The evidence is still unclear,” she said.
“In many southern European cultures it does seem to work but that is not necessarily the
case here.”
Dr Snow said the effects of alcohol abuse could be both short term and long term, something many parents failed to recognise.
“In the short term, excessive alcohol consumption can result in injury, assaults or road trauma but there are other effects that parents don’t always see,” she said.
“Regrettable sexual activity is a big problem, particularly among females. Even if it was consensual at the time it is often regrettable and parents don’t always see this side.”
Dr Snow supported the debate in Australia on whether the drinking age for alcohol should be raised to 21.
“A young person’s judgment and decision making skills get better with age,” she said.
“The frontal lobe is an important part in this and it doesn’t finish maturing until the mid-20s for males and approximately 23 for woman.
“On these grounds it would be better if
the drinking age was raised but culturally and politically it would be a very difficult path to take.”
