Transmission of alcohol abuse behavior from parents to their children in the Czech population

Background: From the point of view of social learning and the socio-environmental perspective, alcohol abuse in parents appears to be an essential risk factor for later drinking problems in children. Such behavior is directly related to the initiation and continuation of substance abuse through genetic influences and passing on the patterns of behavior. The frequency of alcohol consumption depends on the behavior patterns, while the variables of the child’s age and gender also play their role. In particular, early initiation into drinking is considered riskier. Aim: To analyze the connection between the frequency and amount of alcohol consumption by children and the patterns of alcohol consumption among persons who are responsible for their upbringing. Research sample: In terms of age and sex, a representative child population ( n = 2948); males (1492; 50.61%) and females (1456; 49.39%) aged 6–17 years. Methods: An online research tool developed within the Social Survey Project platform. The statistical significance was tested using the χ 2 statistic for two-dimensional (C×R) contingency tables. Results: Alcohol consumption in the presence of children is related to the amount of alcohol consumed. Children of abstainers, who do not drink in front of their children, or who consume alcohol to a limited extent, are more likely to not consume alcohol at all. Large quantities of alcohol are consumed by children whose parents often drink in their presence. For children aged 15–17, alcohol consumption is not related to its availability at home if they consume it in small quantities. Conclusion: The prevention of negative social phenomena starts in the family, long before the child reaches the age when he or she begins to be threatened by these phenomena. As a non-specific prevention, we can, in particular, perceive the method of upbringing in the family, where mutual trust and safety are developed, and the child has a solid background and develops appropriate patterns of behavior.