A study by Deakin University has shown that parents may be the key to cutting teenage binge drinking.

Researchers have identified a 25 per cent reduction in the rates of teen alcohol abuse when parents set strict rules on booze.

A team led by Deakin’s Professor John Toumbourou undertook a two-year program to help parents guide their children’s habits through the early secondary school years. Parents were given information on the many negative impacts of alcohol use in adolescence, and encouraged not to supply drinks or allow their kids to obtain them.

The researchers found that rates of binge drinking at age 14 were reduced by 25 per cent in the 12 schools that were randomly assigned to the program, compared to 12 baseline schools. The results have been published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Professor Toumbourou says the study found that when parents strongly discourage alcohol use and impose firm rules, reductions in adolescent use are possible.

“These findings reinforce a growing trend for young Australians to avoid alcohol use during the secondary school years,” he said.

“In 2002 national school surveys showed 29 per cent of 12-15 years old students used alcohol each week, this dropped to 11 per cent by 2011. This drop is because increasing numbers of parents and young people are now aware of evidence that the adolescent brain remains vulnerable to alcohol misuse into the mid-20s. There is a historic opportunity to encourage a new generation in Australia to avoid the damaging effects of alcohol experienced by previous generations.

“The single biggest contribution that Australian governments could make to encourage this popular movement would be to show courage and raise the legal drinking age from 18 to 21.”

This and previous research will be presented as evidence of the perceived need to increase the legal drinking age at a community forum on the topic in Adelaide today.

A coalition called 21BeThere is campaigning for the change in laws as well.