What’s the right age to talk to the kids about drink danger?

A quarter of dads (25 per cent) in the South East wait until their kids are aged between 13 and 14 years old, but dads in the capital typically start the conversation when their children are between seven and eight.

The research indicates that dads across the UK pick different ages to discuss alcohol and responsible drinking with their children, with variations according to region:

London and Scotland are the only two UK regions in which most dads kick off conversations with children of aged ten and under.

The poll of 1,000 dads with children under 18 was conducted by the world’s largest brewer, AB InBev UK, to coincide with the company’s annual Global Be(er) Responsible Day.

Last year AB InBev UK conducted a similar survey of mums via the UK’s biggest website for parents, Mumsnet.

That poll showed that the majority of mums nationwide are having conversations about alcohol and responsible drinking earlier than their male counterparts. More than half (55 per cent) of mums had first spoken to their child when they were between seven and 10 years old, compared with just over a third of dads (36 per cent).

Most dads aren’t taking advice from their friends, other parents or professionals about how to educate their kids on alcohol:

Almost 70 per cent of South East fathers who have spoken to their children about alcohol didn’t seek advice or support from other parents.

Just eight per cent have used information by a school and seven per cent have sought advice from a GP.

Inge Plochaet of AB InBev UK, said: “Our Family Talk programme – which we launched in the UK this time last year – offers mums and dads a place to share their experience and advice on talking with their children about alcohol. As a mother of two sons myself I know that giving parents access to this kind of guidance is so important.”

Siobhan McCann of alcohol education charity Drinkaware, added: “When it comes to alcohol, the more information your child has, and the earlier they get it, the better.

“Encouraging parents to talk to their children about alcohol and delaying the age of their first drink is essential to tackling the UK’s drinking culture. Evidence shows that the earlier children start drinking, the more likely they are to drink more and more frequently as they grow up.

““Children as young as seven are aware of alcohol and its effects, so it’s important that parents talk to their children about alcohol in their pre-teens. Drinkaware.co.uk/parents provides tips and advice on talking to children about alcohol. Along with Family Talk UK, Drinkaware supports parents in what can be a tricky issue.”

Advice on how to talk to kids about alcohol can be found at http://www.facebook.com/FamilyTalkUK.