Children who fetch or open drinks for adults may be at increased risk for problematic alcohol use

MedicalXpress | 八月 03, 2026

When tweens and young adolescents bring or pour drinks for adults, they may perceive that their parents approve of underage drinking, increasing the risk of early drinking initiation and later harmful alcohol use. Findings from a new study help clarify that this family practice may have unintended negative consequences. Certain well-intentioned parenting practices, including permitting children to taste alcohol, are strongly linked to later teen drinking—though why and how are not well understood.