Should You Let Your Kids “Taste” Alcohol? Read This Before You Grab the Corkscrew by Joy Stephenson-Laws JD [inactive]

Many parents may think it is a good idea to let their children’s first drinking experience be with them. As a result, they will allow their kids to drink alcohol in a more controlled environment, as opposed to a party without adult supervision where there will likely be a lot of binge drinking. This way children will have the knowledge to drink wisely and responsibly as they go through high school, college and young adult life.

But according to recent research, letting your kids sip and taste alcohol may promote risky behavior! Lead author of the research, psychologist Craig Colder, said that “early sipping and tasting is predicting increased drinking behavior in young adulthood."

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, so let’s be proactive and have an open dialogue with our children about the consequences of addiction and binge drinking. This may be a much better route than simply saying: “Well, they’re going to do it anyway. May as well let them do it under our watch.”

You may find that your kids actually appreciate you speaking with them and that they will take your advice and guidance to heart.

Read more about parents supplying their kids with alcohol via ABCNews and get more information at phlabs.com.

Do you let your teenagers drink alcohol at home?