YOUNG CHILDREN AND ALCOHOL: A THEORY OF ATTITUDE DEVELOPMENT

This investigation traces the development of alcohol-relatedknowledge and attitudes of 228 children aged 5.5–10.5years, using methods adapted from a study by Jahoda and Cramond(Children and Alcohol. HMSO, 1972). Preliminary results indicatethat attitudes have changed Little over the past 20 years. Youngchildren's attitudes remain distinctly negative towards adultdrinking, and are particularly negative in relation to womendrinkers. As age increased, this negativity intensified. Moreover,girls were more condemnatory of women drinkers than were boys.The results are described in terms of a socio-cognitive theoryof attitude development. The implications for primary interventionstrategies are also discussed.