Dutch parents let teenagers drink at home despite age restrictions

Eight out of 10 parents will let their children drink at home, according to a poll by a Dutch TV program Eenvandaag. The age at which Dutch teenagers can buy alcohol is going up to 18 on Jan. 1. Yet, two out of three parents with teenagers younger than 18 said that their children were allowed to drink with them. The majority of them (81 percent) said that they would not forbid their children from drinking alcohol at home. In fact, when parents were asked if they would continue to buy alcohol for their 16 and 17-year-olds, nearly all responded that they would do so. However, 74 percent of the parents think that the age limit for drinking alcohol to 18 years is a good thing. In addition, more than half of the 16 and 17-year-olds questioned by the Dutch program said they did not expect to drink less once the ban came into effect and one-third said that they drink more than their parents were aware of.