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The other influence: peer pressure
What’s the evidence that adults can influence their kid’s decisions on alcohol? Isn't it mostly about peer pressure?
Various studies have indicated that parents do indeed have an important influence on whether kids decide to drink. One such study mentioned elsewhere on this site was published in the 2009 Journal of Studies of Alcohol and Drugs, titled, “The earlier the more? Differences in the Links Between Age at First Drink and Adolescent Alcohol Use and Related Problems According to Quality of Parent – Child Relationship.” This doesn’t mean peers have no influence – they do, and peer influence grows as our children get older. Yet parents still retain an influence at every age. Our job is to learn how to use our influence to make the most positive impact.