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More parents supply alcohol to children

By Staff Writer

Although it is illegal, underage drinking is common across the U.S., but new research shows that the problem is beginning to spiral out of control. A recent federal study showed that approximately 709,000 kids between the ages of 12 and 14 drink alcohol, according to HealthDay News.

Previously, experts believed that the problem was fueled by vendors who sold alcohol to kids and friends who were willing to buy the substance for their underage acquaintances. Now, more officials are beginning to think that parents are the cause of the problem. Adults who feel the pressure to purchase alcohol to impress their children and friends are being blamed for the high underage drinking rate.

The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently reported that approximately 200,000 minors had been given alcohol by their guardians within a 30-day period. Parents typically attempt to justify the act by citing adult supervision, but experts say that drinking can still have long-term negative health effects on growing children.

The 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed that 42 percent of high school students had consumed alcohol within a 30-day span, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Counseling can help troubled teens who drink to cope with stress and anxiety.

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