While people under the age of 21 are not permitted to drink alcohol, that does not mean they are not exposed to marketing touting popular brands of booze. And research shows that the more marketing a youth is exposed to, the more likely they are to drink excessively. Fortunately, parents can offset these ill effects by talking to their children and setting a good example.
While alcohol companies have vowed to refrain from targeting children with advertising, the reality is that kids of all ages are repeatedly exposed to ads online, on television, and in print. Although underage people cannot easily buy alcohol, being exposed to ads at a young age can alter their perception of substance use. Instead of taking a neutral or even negative view, alcohol marketing can normalize consumption or even make it more appealing than it would normally be.
Parents cannot control how alcohol companies choose to market their products, but they can have a big impact on their kids by doing the following:
For further insight, talk with your child’s paediatrician. They may be able to provide more resources or even talk with your child about alcohol and its health effects.