Parents' willingness to provide alcohol and adolescents' alcohol use – Evidence from Swedish data

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to study the relationship between parents' willingness to provide various alcoholic beverages and the binge-drinking behaviour of their adolescent children. Parental willingness was reported by the child of the parent. Cross-sectional data on Swedish adolescents aged 12–18 were used for the empirical analysis (n?=?2243). A bivariate probit selection model was used to analyse (a) participation in drinking and (b) binge drinking conditional on participation in drinking. The results showed that parents' willingness to provide a certain alcoholic beverage was correlated significantly and positively with the probability of their adolescent binge-drinking the same beverage. Moreover, no evidence was found for any substitution effects, i.e. that adolescents increased consumption of another alcoholic beverage when there were no willingness to provide a certain beverage by their parent. The findings have important policy implications, as no evidence was found for any substitution effects or for the hypothesis that parental willingness to provide alcohol was associated with more ‘responsible’ drinking patterns among the adolescents. The findings lend support to policies aimed at reducing the willingness of parents to provide alcohol to their adolescent children.     

Can alcohol lead to inhibition or disinhibition? Applying alcohol myopia to animal experimentation

AIMS: Animal experimentation often demonstrates that alcohol leads to disinhibited behaviour, such as increased aggression, increased social behaviour, or increased impulsivity. However, human experimentation demonstrates that alcohol can have either disinhibiting or inhibiting effects on behaviour, depending on salient environmental cues. Our aim was to illustrate how alcohol myopia theory could be applied to the literature assessing the effects of alcohol on behaviour in animals. METHODS: The effects of alcohol on animal behaviour were reviewed in several domains, including aggression, social behaviours, and impulsivity. Suggestions for testing alcohol myopia with animal research paradigms were provided. RESULTS: Current animal research paradigms are often designed in such a way that alcohol myopia cannot be tested. To test alcohol myopia, we recommend manipulating the salience of both impelling and inhibiting environmental cues. CONCLUSIONS: Disinhibition alone cannot explain alcohol's effects on behaviour. We contend that alcohol myopia theory helps to explain some contradictory findings in the human and animal literature. We encourage animal researchers to develop research paradigms to provide tests of alcohol myopia.     

Mothers' intentions to introduce their adolescent to alcohol use: does mothers' alcohol use effect intentions?

Objective: To assess mothers' intentions to introduce their adolescent to alcohol and to examine whether their own alcohol use influences their intentions. Methods: Mothers (N = 161) of children aged 12.5 years (SD = 0.8) completed measures of their alcohol use and their intentions and attitudes towards their children beginning to drink alcohol. Results: Overall, 68% of mothers reported that parents should introduce their children to alcohol at home before they reach the age of 18, (in contrast with NHMRC guidelines, which recommend delaying alcohol use until age 18). While there were some statistically significant differences in mothers' intentions and beliefs according to their own alcohol use, these were small or medium effects, and tended to be differences in degree rather than in kind and not likely to be of practical importance. Conclusions and implications: Introducing their children to the use of alcohol is a role mothers see as important, and one they generally felt sufficiently equipped to carry out. Mothers' intentions to initiate their children into alcohol use were remarkably similar despite differences in mothers' own alcohol use. This suggests that approaches to education and guidance for parents are unlikely to need to take mothers' alcohol use into account when planning ways to support parents in this aspect of their role, at least for mothers of early adolescents.     

How much alcohol is too much and why? Comments on socially accepted but excessive alcohol drinking patterns

Many modern societies increasingly seem to accept drinking patterns that should be qualified as excessive from a health care point of view. This does not concern alcoholism or alcohol addiction but a daily intake of three to eight glasses and the pattern of binge drinking. Although a lot of data are available on the physical consequences of alcohol abuse, little is known about the impact of these drinking patterns on peoples' health. According to the J-shaped curve between alcohol consumption and mortality, an increase in morbidity and mortality can be noticed from two to three drinks a day. This is largely caused by an increase in accidents, malignancies, cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders. However, data on pathophysiological mechanisms and on the contribution of these drinking patterns in medical consumption are scarce. Because of the estimated extent of the problem and societies' interest, more support should be given to scientific programs and research into this matter. This may not only contribute to a better monitoring of the problem but also guide the development of strategies for education and prevention.     

Collective efficacy,alcohol outlet density,and young men’s alcohol use in rural South Africa

Alcohol use contributes to morbidity and mortality in developing countries by increasing the risk of trauma and disease, including alcohol dependence. Limited research addresses determinants of alcohol use beyond the individual level in sub-Saharan Africa. We test the association of community collective efficacy and alcohol outlet density with young men's drinking in a cross-sectional, locally representative survey conducted in rural northeast South Africa. Informal social control and cohesion show protective associations with men's heavy drinking, while alcohol outlet density is associated with more potential problem drinking. These findings provide initial support for intervening at the community level to promote alcohol reduction.     

Is access to alcohol associated with alcohol/substance abuse among people diagnosed with anxiety/mood disorder?

ObjectivesTo investigate the relationship between access to off-license alcohol outlets and areas with dual treatment for alcohol/drug abuse and anxiety/mood disorder compared to areas with anxiety/mood disorder only in an urban setting in New Zealand.Study designEcologic study.MethodsWithin small areas (2840 meshblocks, mean size 0.05 km²) in the city of Auckland, New Zealand, counts of adults receiving anxiety/mood disorder treatment (2008–9) were identified and the proportions of these individuals also receiving treatment for alcohol/drug abuse were generated. Access to off-license alcohol outlets were defined as: 1) shortest road distance from the population-weighted centroid of each small area to an outlet; 2) count of outlets within a 3 km road network buffer; and 3) relative density of outlets across Auckland (determined through kernel density estimates). To test for the relationship between access to alcohol outlets and dual diagnosis, meshblocks without any cases of anxiety/mood disorder were excluded from analyses. Remaining meshblocks were dichotomized into any or no dual diagnosis. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between access to alcohol outlets and treatment for the dual conditions.ResultsNeighbourhoods with dual diagnosis were generally similar to those with anxiety/mood disorder only, in terms of ethnic and gender/age composition. Regression analyses indicated statistically significant decreased risk of dual diagnosis for those areas with the lowest density (using a buffer) of alcohol outlets (OR = 0.75, P-value = 0.027) compared with areas with the highest density, after adjustment for deprivation and population density. All access measures also indicated significant linear trends where dual diagnosis was more likely in areas with greater access.ConclusionsGenerally, decreased access to alcohol outlets was associated with decreased odds of dual diagnosis of alcohol/drug abuse and anxiety/mood disorder. Measures to control access to alcohol outlets may be an important area for alcohol/substance abuse intervention, particularly for vulnerable sub-populations.     

Cross‐promotional alcohol discounting in Australia's grocery sector: a barrier to initiatives to curb excessive alcohol consumption?

Objective: Excessive alcohol consumption is an increasing issue internationally. Pricing strategies, including discount restrictions, have been identified as one of the most effective policy means by which to reduce heavy alcohol consumption. In Australia, cross‐promotional alcohol discounts are increasingly used by supermarket chains as a marketing tool. The purpose of the present study is to provide preliminary data on the nature and extent of cross‐promotional alcohol discounting in the Australian grocery sector. Methods: A purposive sample of 34 supermarkets in Australia's three largest cities was selected and minor grocery purchases made to uncover the prevalence and level of cross‐promotional alcohol discounting. Results: Cross‐promotional ‘bundled’ discounts were very common with 33 of the 34 supermarkets offering a ‘two for one’ discount on bottles of wine. Even with minor purchases (mean purchase $1.35), the mean value of discounts received was substantial ($16.23). Conclusions: These results appear to be consistent with claims that major supermarket chains are using alcohol discounts as loss leaders to entice new consumers. Implications: These strategies are antithetical to public health strategies aimed at reducing excessive alcohol consumption. Further examination of the impact of major retailers on public health initiatives is warranted, particularly in light of increasing retailer concentration.     

Does alcohol increase the risk of preterm delivery?

We evaluated the association between alcohol intake during pregnancy and preterm delivery. Women attending routine antenatal care at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, from 1989-1991 and 1992-1996 were eligible. We included 18,228 singleton pregnancies in the analyses. We obtained prospective information on alcohol intake at 16 and 30 weeks of gestation, other lifestyle factors, maternal characteristics, and obstetrical risk factors from self-administered questionnaires and hospital files. For women with alcohol intake of 1-2, 3-4, 5-9, and > or =10 drinks/week the risk ratio (RR) of preterm delivery was 0.91 (95% CI = 0.76-1.08), 0.86 (95% CI = 0.64-1.15), 0.89 (95% CI = 0.52-1.52), and 2.93 (95% CI = 1.52-5.63), respectively, compared with intake of <1 drink/week at 16 weeks gestation, and 0.69 (95% CI = 0.56-0.86), 0.82 (95% CI = 0.60-1.13), 0.97 (95% CI = 0.58-1.64), and 3.56 (95% CI = 1.78-7.13) at 30 weeks. Adjustment for smoking habits, caffeine intake, age, height, pre-pregnant weight, marital status, occupational status, education, parity, chronic diseases, previous preterm delivery, mode of initiation of labor, and sex of the child did not change the conclusions, nor did restriction of the highest intake group to women drinking 10-14 drinks/week (RR = 3.41 (1.71-6.81) at 16 weeks and RR = 3.47 (1.64-7.35) at 30 weeks).     

Is cigarette smoking related to alcohol use during the 8 years following treatment for adolescent alcohol and other drug abuse?

AIMS: The present study examined the relationship between cigarette smoking and alcohol use outcomes over an 8-year period following treatment for adolescent alcohol and other drug (AOD) use disorders. METHODS: The present study was based on a sample of 166 adolescents recruited during inpatient AOD abuse treatment. Included in this study were 123 (74% of the full sample) participants, of whom 41% were female, 81% identified themselves as White and who averaged 15.9 years of age (SD = 1.3) when entering treatment. Data for the present study were drawn from interviews conducted at the time of treatment and 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-years post-treatment. RESULTS: Twenty six percent of participants had quit smoking for > 1 year at the 8-year assessment, while 44% reported persistent smoking over time. Overall smoking rates decreased significantly over time. Subjects associated with the highest alcohol involvement trajectory reported significantly greater likelihood of persistent smoking as well as higher current smoking and cigarette consumption across time points. CONCLUSIONS: The significant declines observed in smoking from adolescence into young adulthood were contrary to expectations, indicating that this behaviour may be less stable than previously thought among adolescent AOD abusers. Smoking involvement over time was greater within the highest alcohol use trajectory, consistent with previous evidence for a positive relationship between these behaviours. However, when compared with the general population smoking rates remained very high regardless of alcohol involvement. Thus, individuals treated for AOD abuse as adolescents remained at elevated risk for tobacco related disease regardless of post-treatment AOD use outcomes.     

Is decreased leptin secretion after alcohol ingestion catecholamine-mediated?

AIMS: Catecholamines (CA) inhibit leptin secretion. Alcohol appears to have a similar effect. The mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of alcohol is unknown, but CA may play a role as mediators. This hypothesis has never been tested. We decided to do so in the present investigation. METHODS: Seven healthy subjects participated in two experiments (A and B), performed in random order, 1 week apart. In experiment A, three identical doses of ethanol (0.45 g/kg b.w.) were ingested at regular intervals between 09:00 and 12:00 hours. The alcohol doses were given against a background of oral placebo administered at 08:00 and 12:00 hours. In experiment B, identical doses of alcohol were ingested against a background of oral propranolol (40 mg at 08:00 and 20 mg at 12:00 hours). Pulse rates, and serum levels of ethanol, insulin, IGF-1 and leptin, were determined at regular intervals throughout the experiments. Urinary CA excretion was also determined. RESULTS: Propranolol (experiment B) decreased the pulse rate significantly, compared with placebo (experiment A), but did not change the urinary excretion of adrenaline nor noradrenaline. Alcohol ingestion raised the serum ethanol levels similarly in the two experiments but did not affect the insulin or IGF-1 levels. The serum leptin levels declined similarly in the two experiments, as evidenced by the percentage serum leptin decline from baseline, which was 28.6 +/- 5.4% in experiment A and 29.0 +/- 2.9% in experiment B. CONCLUSION: The declining serum leptin concentration after acute ingestion of alcohol does neither appear to be CA-mediated nor to be caused by changed secretion of insulin or IGF-1. A direct inhibitory effect of alcohol on the adipocytes is possible, but increased disposal of leptin via hepatic metabolism or renal excretion could also contribute.     

Are "drink responsibly" alcohol campaigns strategically ambiguous?

This article applies the concept of strategic ambiguity in examining viewer responses to brewer-sponsored "responsible drinking" television advertising campaigns. Strategically ambiguous messages are designed to engender diverse interpretations between varied audience segments, and these different selective perceptions should translate into relatively uniform positive corporate images. In this study, teenage and young adult respondents were shown a series of television spots from two leading alcohol companies. As predicted, there was a high degree of diversity in meanings of message content and campaign purpose derived by viewers, particularly among less sophisticated teenagers. Moreover, evaluative ratings of messages and sponsors were generally favorable and more uniform than interpretive responses. The research demonstrates how seemingly prohealth messages can serve to subtly advance both industry sales and public relations interests.     

β-Endorphin-stimulated prolactin release in lactating rats following alcohol administration

To delineate the mechanism of alcohol inhibition of the suckling-induced prolactin increase, we examined β-endorphin-stimulated prolactin release in lactating rats separated from their litters. On day 2 of lactation litters were adjusted to eight pups. On day 7, dams were implanted with an atrial catheter; experiments were conducted on lactation day 10. Litters were separated from their dams at 0800. After five hours, a PE50 extension tube filled with heparinized saline was attached to the catheter. At 1400 a preinfusion blood sample was removed and was followed by infusion of saline (control) or alcohol in saline (1.0 and 2.0 g/kg/body weight). Following the removal of a postinfusion blood sample, β-endorphin (600 μg/kg/body weight) was administered. Additional blood samples were withdrawn 10, 30, 60, and 120 min after β-endorphin.Alcohol infusion did not alter basal prolactin. β-Endorphin administration resulted in pronounced prolactin increases in all groups. Alcohol failed to inhibit β-endorphin-induced plasma prolactin increase. From the present study with β-endorphin and our previous studies with sulpiride and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) it is concluded that the anterior pituitary is not the site where alcohol acts to inhibit suckling-induced prolactin release in rats.