Sobering Data About Young People's Attitudes Toward Alcohol

Two recent studies address the impacts of policy and parental attitudes on alcohol use.

Huckle and colleagues conducted annual telephone interviews in Auckland, New Zealand, over 11 years when alcohol regulations were being relaxed (e.g., lower drinking age; less-stringent licensing requirements; wine sales in grocery stores; alcohol advertising in broadcast media; and customs policies leading to imports of “alcopops,” popular with young people). From baseline to study end, males and females aged 14 to 19 showed the greatest changes — imbibing more on each drinking occasion and experiencing more alcohol-related problems (e.g., being kicked out of a place, fighting, and hangovers).

Abar and colleagues repeatedly surveyed 585 college students a…