Alcohol supply as a favour for a friend: Scenarios of alcohol supply to younger friends and siblings

Abstract

Issues addressed Adolescents under the legal purchase age primarily source their alcohol through social networks. This study assessed the provision context from the perspective of both underage recipients and their suppliers who were older peers and siblings. Methods Interviewer‐administered surveys were conducted with 590 risky‐drinking (50 g alcohol per session, at least monthly) adolescents. Participants of legal purchase age (18‐ to 19‐year‐olds; n = 269) reported their provision to 16‐ to 17‐year‐olds under eight scenarios. Those aged 14‐17 (n = 321) reported receipt of alcohol under the same scenarios plus two parental supply contexts. Results Purchase‐age participants reported supply: to an underage friend (67%), an acquaintance (44%) or a sibling (16%) to drink at the same party; to a friend (43%) or sibling (20%) to take to another party (20%) and to a stranger near a bottle shop (5%). Supply to a friend at the same party was more likely if money was exchanged (60% vs 40%; P < 0.001). Almost all (98%) 14‐ to 17‐year‐olds reported receiving alcohol from an adult (including 36% from a parent for consumption away from the parent), with a similar pattern of receipt scenarios as those reported by the 18‐ to 19‐year‐olds. Conclusions Provision of alcohol was more frequent with a friend than a sibling or stranger, in close environmental proximity, and if money was exchanged. So what? As supply may be sensitive to monetary considerations, the incidence of underage receipt may be affected by community‐wide pricing measures. Traditional alcohol availability regulations should be supplemented by strategies relating to the social nature of supply and demand.

Alcohol Use and Its Affordability in Adolescents in Slovakia between 2010 and 2018: Girls Are Less Adherent to Policy Measures

“…Thus, these girls are more successful in purchasing alcohol. (2) They more frequently employ the assistance of older friends to purchase alcohol [ 34 ]. Although most studies dealing with these aspects did not analyze gender or SE differences, some of them support this view, as they demonstrated a higher success rate in buying alcohol among girls [ 29 , 33 , 35 ].…”

Safety first: Beliefs of older peers supplying alcohol to underage friends

“…Current limited evidence on supply through non‐parental sources such as friends suggests that higher quantities are supplied and associated with worse adverse outcomes 13,15 . Our previous work demonstrates that Australian risky drinking young adults commonly supply alcohol to their underage peers at frequencies varying by relationship, environmental proximity and whether money was exchanged 16 …”

“…Half (49%) reported providing alcohol to a 16-to 17-year-old friend to drink at a party they were both attending, at least twice a year (26% at least once a month, 22% at least twice a year but not as often as once a month, 18% once a year or less often, 31% never 16 ).…”

“…13,15 Our previous work demonstrates that Australian risky drinking young adults commonly supply alcohol to their underage peers at frequencies varying by relationship, environmental proximity and whether money was exchanged. 16 Laws which prohibit adults' supplying underage adolescents with alcohol in private premises have been enacted in various regions, including 31 US states, 17 and in countries including the Netherlands, 11 New Zealand 7 and Australia. 18 In Australia, "secondary supply" legislation was introduced in 1935 in Tasmania, 1992 Queensland, 1998 in Victoria, 2007 New South Wales, 2010 Australian Capital Territory, 2015 Northern Territory, 2015 Western Australia and 2017 in South Australia.…”

How Should We Regulate the Way Young People Are Introduced to Alcohol?

“…Australia does not have a legal minimum drinking age per se. Instead, the minimum age to purchase alcohol is 18 years, and "secondary supply" laws allow for parents (but not other unauthorized parties without consent) to provide alcohol to children within homes [13].…”