Can Sips at Home Prevent Binges?

A New York Times article examines the question of whether parents allowing teens to drink at home decreases alcohol problems later. (Note that they are not talking about parents hosting parties for their kids or buying them a 6 pack, they are talking about allowing some wine with dinner.)

Dr. Vaillant compared 136 men who were alcoholics with men who were not. Those who grew up in families where alcohol was forbidden at the table, but was consumed away from the home, apart from food, were seven times more likely to be alcoholics that those who came from families where wine was served with meals but drunkenness was not tolerated.

He concluded that teenagers should be taught to enjoy wine with family meals, and 25 years later Dr. Vaillant stands by his recommendation. “The theoretical position is: driving a car, shooting a rifle, using alcohol are all dangerous activities,” he told me, “and the way you teach responsibility is to let parents teach appropriate use.”

“If you are taught to drink in a ceremonial way with food, then the purpose of alcohol is taste and celebration, not inebriation,” he added. “If you are forbidden to use it until college then you drink to get drunk.”

The article focuses on the matter in a very micro manner--avoiding questions alcohol's status as a celebrated drug in our culture and questions of drinking age. (If we strongly believe that alcohol should be prohibited for people under the age of 21, why are we so permissive with 19 and 20 year olds? If we don't think it's a problem for 19 and 20 year olds, why do we maintain this law?)