Accompanied drinking
How dangerous is alcohol consumption among young people
When accompanied by their parents or other guardians, young people aged 14 and over are allowed to drink alcohol legally.
© imago images/Dreamstime
Supervised drinking by minors is being criticized. But how dangerous is alcohol consumption among young people really?
In Germany, 14 to 16-year-olds are officially allowed to drink beer and wine in the presence of their parents. The idea behind it: If minors are introduced to alcohol in a controlled way, they will become more conscious of their use of it. But not everyone sees it that way. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach announced in July that he wanted to abolish so-called “supervised drinking”. The presence of adults does not change the fact that alcohol is harmful to children, he said. Dr. Reingard Herbst, chief physician at the Nescure private clinic on the lake, agrees. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, she explains how alcohol affects children and how or whether parents can encourage healthy use of alcohol.
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach recently called for the abolition of so-called “supervised drinking” for young people under 16. What do you think of this widespread practice? What consequences could drinking under parental supervision have for young people?
Dr. Reingard Herbst: As a mother of two adult children, I can understand that parents hope that their child will be able to handle alcohol sensibly in the future. However, how the child’s basic attitude develops is usually not in the parents’ hands. Rather, a possible consequence of “supervised drinking” can be that young people classify alcohol as harmless and socially acceptable and even desirable.
Doesn’t controlled drinking with parents help develop a healthier attitude towards alcohol?
Dr. Herbst: From the parents’ point of view, that may be the wish behind it. From the experienced doctor’s point of view, the attitude towards alcohol depends on many factors and not only on how and whether alcohol is consumed in the family of origin.
It is also an open question whether the parents’ attitude towards alcohol could be described as healthy in principle. Alcohol is a cell poison; this statement alone makes a “healthy” attitude seem questionable. Of course, the parents simply want to show that alcohol can be consumed in moderation and that this is socially tolerated. They probably want to set a good example for their children. But this is just one aspect that could get the ball rolling, but it doesn’t have to.
What health risks does alcohol consumption pose, especially for young people whose bodies and brains are still developing?
Dr. Herbst: Alcohol, like cannabis, has a particularly negative effect on the developing brain. All of the body’s cells can be damaged by even a small amount of alcohol. The skin becomes paler, the gastrointestinal tract becomes irritated, digestive disorders occur, and mood swings can also occur.
How does the effect of alcohol on the adolescent brain differ compared to that of adults, and what long-term consequences can this have?
Dr. Herbst: In the long term, the brain changes caused by alcohol consumption are the same in adolescents and adults, cognition suffers more and more. However, it is actually more difficult for a brain that is not yet fully developed to process the poison: brain cells are no longer connected, new pathways are not created or are created in a worse way. This means that thought processes and concentration may be altered at an early stage.
Is there a connection between early alcohol consumption and later alcohol dependence or other addictive disorders?
Dr. Herbst: Early consumption alone is not the only reason for later dependence or other addictions. However, the path is paved and the inhibition threshold is lowered early on. If other factors are then added, such as feelings of inferiority, weak bonds or genetic imprints, early consumption can actually lead to subsequent problems of dependence.
Should the minimum drinking age be raised in general? What do you consider to be the “ideal” age?
Dr. Herbst: From a doctor’s point of view, the minimum drinking age can be raised. Studies or experience in other countries may be able to show whether this measure would be effective.
I cannot define an ideal age. There is no age for “reason and insight.”
What can parents do to teach their children and model healthy alcohol consumption?
Dr. Herbst: Do not have alcohol available all the time, do not integrate it as normal in everyday life, do not make it “important” and ideally do not even model alcohol consumption yourself.