The BBC is reporting that a new study by the think tank Demos, suggests that parenting styles are one of the biggest influences on how children drink when they grow-up – the study concludes that warmth and affection is the best approach for parent to adopt.

The BBC reports that Demos studied data based on about 15,000 children born in the UK in the last 40 years:

It found that a “tough love” style of parenting was the best way to ensure children drank more responsibly when they were aged between 16 and 34.

The research also suggests that being too authoritarian with children could be as ineffectual as being too casual.

Warm and affectionate

Researchers found that the best approach was for parents to be warm and affectionate until the age of 10 and then combine this with more discipline. Then at ages 15 to 16 there should be more supervision.

It found high levels of parental attachment when children were aged under five significantly reduced the chances of them drinking excessively later in life.

It studied data gained from questioning of parents on two broad areas – warmth and discipline.

When their children were young, parents were asked about how much time they spent with them and whether they ate meals together, among other questions.

Regarding discipline, they were asked whether they knew where their teenage children were in the evenings, how often household rules were broken, and other questions.

When the children reached adulthood, they were asked about alcohol consumption.

Report author Jamie Bartlett said that parenting which combined high levels of both warmth and discipline “results in the child overall in their lives achieving lots of positive things – well-being, responsibility, efficacy, and responsible alcohol consumption is one of them.

“This isn’t just about alcohol, but it’s one of those things that’s affected by parenting styles.”

To read the full article on the BBC website, view HERE.