The overall effect of parental supply of alcohol across adolescence on alcohol‐related harms in early adulthood—a prospective cohort study

Abstract

Background and Aims Recent research suggests that parental supply of alcohol is associated with more risky drinking and alcohol‐related harm among adolescents. However, the overall effect of parental supply throughout adolescence remains unclear, because parental supply of alcohol varies during adolescence. Due to the complexity of longitudinal data, standard analytical methods can be biased. This study examined the effect of parental supply of alcohol on alcohol‐related outcomes in early adulthood using robust methods to minimize risk of bias. Design Prospective longitudinal cohort study. Setting Australia Participants A cohort of school students (n = 1906) recruited in the first year of secondary school (average age 12.9 years) from Australian schools in 2010–11, interviewed annually for 7 years. Measurements The exposure variable was self‐reported parental supply of alcohol (including sips/whole drinks) during 5 years of adolescence (waves 1–5). Outcome variables were self‐reported binge drinking, alcohol‐related harm and symptoms of alcohol use disorder, measured in the two waves after the exposure period (waves 6–7). To reduce risk of bias, we used targeted maximum likelihood estimation to assess the (counterfactual) effect of parental supply of alcohol in all five waves versus no supply on alcohol‐related outcomes. Findings Parental supply of alcohol throughout adolescence saw greater risk of binge drinking [risk ratios (RR) = 1.53; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.27–1.84] and alcohol‐related harms (RR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.22–1.69) in the year following the exposure period compared with no supply in adolescence. Earlier initiation of parental supply also increased risk of binge drinking (RR = 1.10; 95% CI = 1.05–1.14), and any alcohol‐related harm (RR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.05–1.13) for each year earlier parental supply began compared with later (or no) initiation. Conclusions Adolescents whose parents supply them with alcohol appear to have an increased risk of alcohol‐related harm compared with adolescents whose parents do not supply them with alcohol. The risk appears to increase with earlier initiation of supply.

Prevalence of parental supply of alcohol to minors: a systematic review

“…Studies that reported prevalence rates for all minors, all found prevalence rates higher for those who were older (indicated by either age in years or school grade) ( Health and Social Care Information Centre, 2011 , 2013 , 2015 , 2017 ; Stafström, 2014 ; Shaw et al, 2018 ); ranging between 32.0 and 38.0% for those who were 15 versus 4.0–8.0% for those who were 11 years old ( Figure 2 ). The Australian Parental Supply of Alcohol Longitudinal Study (APSALS) ( Aiken et al, 2017 ; Mattick et al, 2017 ; Mattick et al, 2018 ; Clare et al, 2019 ; Aiken et al, 2020 ; Boland et al, 2020 ; Clare et al, 2020 ; Najman et al, 2021 ) also found that prevalence rates increased with age from 9.3% in 2010–11 (mean age: 12.9 years) to 10.5% in 2013–14 (mean age: 15.8 years) for all minors who reported parents as their only alcohol source, and from 15.2% in 2010–11 to 45.7% in 2014–15 (mean age: 16.9 years) for those reporting any parental supply (i.e. including those additionally reporting supply via other sources).…”

Association of supply sources of alcohol and alcohol-related harms in adolescent drinkers: the baseline characteristics of a high school cohort across Thailand

“…Second, this was in part related to the analysis of the cross-sectional data. The previous literature found the significant adverse effect of parental, ever-sips or whole servers, on adolescent alcohol outcomes, including binge drinking, any alcohol-related harms, and symptoms of alcohol use disorder in the second to fifth waves of cohort observation, if compared with no supply in the first wave [ 14 , 15 , 27 , 28 ]. This suggests that the single parental alcohol provision was neither a protective nor a risk factor for alcohol use issues in Thai adolescents.…”

24-month outcomes of an eHealth universal program for students and parents to prevent adolescent alcohol use: A cluster randomized controlled trial in schools

“…Despite an overall trend of reduced alcohol use and increased rates of abstinence among young people in Australia and globally, alcohol use remains one of the leading causes of burden of disease globally among people aged 10–24 years ( AIHW, 2020 ; McCabe et al, 2021 ). Research indicates early initiation to alcohol use predicts future harmful drinking behaviours as well as alcohol use problems ( Clare et al, 2020 ; Kim et al, 2017 ) and among Australian adolescents who identify as current alcohol drinkers, 43 % report obtaining alcohol from their parents ( Guerin and White, 2020 ). Research further suggests that parental supply of alcohol is associated with more risky drinking and alcohol-related harm in adolescents ( Clare et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Research indicates early initiation to alcohol use predicts future harmful drinking behaviours as well as alcohol use problems ( Clare et al, 2020 ; Kim et al, 2017 ) and among Australian adolescents who identify as current alcohol drinkers, 43 % report obtaining alcohol from their parents ( Guerin and White, 2020 ). Research further suggests that parental supply of alcohol is associated with more risky drinking and alcohol-related harm in adolescents ( Clare et al, 2020 ). Intervention during adolescence to prevent alcohol use from becoming problematic remains critical ( Botvin and Griffin, 2007 ; Briere et al, 2011 ; McBride, 2003 ).…”