Colman Noctor: Why alcohol and teenagers are a risky mix

Most of the young people surveyed said they did not purchase alcohol for themselves by masquerading as being older or using fake identification, but their parents or other adults were the ones most likely to buy alcohol on their behalf.

Adolescents want to fit in and be accepted by their peers. So when drinking alcohol is considered the norm, they are more likely to join in.

Many teenagers I have spoken to see alcohol as a way to socialise or have fun during parties.

They refer to the notion of “Dutch courage”, suggesting that alcohol helps them become relaxed socially.

When they drink alcohol, they say they become more disinhibited and less self-conscious.

Adolescents are naturally curious, and many are intrigued to find out what consuming alcohol feels like.

They also see so many adults in their lives celebrating and endorsing it that they often form positive associations with alcohol.

Some teenagers say they use alcohol to manage stress, anxiety, or other emotional issues.

However, in my experience, young people who seek this effect are often more likely to be drawn to smoking cannabis — as opposed to alcohol. While these reasons might explain why teens are likely to drink alcohol, they are no excuse for it.

I have long disagreed with teenage drinking. Many of my peers who have older children often warn me that things will change when my children are in their mid-teens, assuming I will change my mind, but I doubt it.

Irish alcohol culture hides harm in plain sight.

Our lenient and romanticised view of alcohol is of chronic proportions.

Many will refer to how every social occasion — whether a birthday, christening, or funeral — involves alcohol or how every visiting dignitary is treated to a pint as the symbol of our céad míle fáilte.

We can point to the film industry as the culprit, as it often portrays alcohol consumption as a glamorous symbol of maturity, but the true promoters of the joys of alcohol might be a little closer to home.

Parents’ behaviour plays a more influential role than we realise. References to phrases like “wine o’clock” and “I need a drink after the week that I’ve had” are subtle, but impactful endorsements of alcohol use.

If children grow up in an environment where regular alcohol consumption is normalised, with the adults in their lives describing it as a reward or an effective means of coping with stress, it is no surprise that adolescents want to experiment with it.

Parental attitude alone is not the sole reason for teenagers’ alcohol use, but we tend to skim over it when explaining our attitude to alcohol consumption.

Health impacts

Research conducted into the impact of alcohol on the adolescent mind, brain, and body unanimously states it causes harm. Recently, American paediatrician Brenden Tervo-Clemmens and colleagues opened their 2024 paper in the JAMA Paediatric Journal with the line: “Adolescents who use substances, including alcohol, have more psychiatric symptoms than peers who do not use.”

Teenage alcohol intake increases the risk of negatively impacting cognitive functions, such as memory and decision-making skills, and impairs their judgment.

According to US neuroscientist Samuel Tetteh-Quarshie, the adolescent brain undergoes significant maturational changes necessary for effective brain development and is especially susceptible to the neurotoxic effects of alcohol.

So how can we condone giving a child a substance known to cause structural brain damage and lead to risky behaviours, such as engaging in dangerous activities which may result in accidents, injuries, or placing themselves in situations where they are vulnerable to harm?

Premature exposure to alcohol increases the risk of teenagers developing substance misuse disorders later in life, according to a study in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

It places them at an increased risk of mental health issues — including depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders — as well as exacerbating pre-existing mental health conditions.

I have heard the arguments of how “we all drank at their age, and we are fine”.

And the truth is that most probably will be fine.

But in my clinic, I have met many teenagers who are “not fine”. For over 20 years, I have supported young people who have suffered the consequences of premature alcohol use.

I have seen how it can impact their lives and lead to serious problems with relationships, school performance, and emotional well-being.

Lack of law enforcement

We seem to conveniently forget that underage drinking is illegal, and teenagers who are caught consuming alcohol may face legal consequences. Underage drinking, claiming to be 18 years old to buy alcohol, or allowing a child to be in a premises that sells alcohol without supervision leads to a €500 fine. However, the lack of enforcement of these laws speaks to our wider cultural leniency towards underage drinking.

Some advocate allowing teens to drink at home in the hope that, “like the French”, their teenager will adopt a relationship with alcohol that will encourage them to “drink responsibly”.

The problem with this philosophy is we are not French.

Providing any permission to drink alcohol under-age dismisses the importance of the physical and psychological consequences of consuming it, when our brains and bodies are not sufficiently developed to cope with it.

I’m aware my advice to hold off allowing your teenager to drink alcohol may be akin to building sandcastles against the tide of public opinion, but I believe it is worth saying.

I have yet to speak to a parent who regretted not allowing their child to consume alcohol earlier, but I have met plenty who regretted not holding off until they reached the legal age.

We talk about how parenting advice can be ambiguous and a lot of it can “depend on the child”; however, when it comes to the critical issue of underage drinking, there is no debate. Stating clearly that alcohol is not to be consumed before their 18th birthday is not a preference or an ideology — it is a central parental responsibility.

• Dr Colman Noctor is a child psychotherapist.