Determinants of parental support for governmental alcohol control policies

Aim: To explore determinants that predict parental support for governmental alcohol control policies in the Netherlands. Method: A questionnaire was administered among 1550 parents, containing six possible predictors to explain support for alcohol control policies. Results: Parental support can be explained by five partly normative predictors (R2 = .503). Parents with lower drinking frequencies are stricter and more supportive than parents who consume more alcohol. Higher-educated parents are stricter than lower-educated parents. Conclusion: In general, parents do support governmental alcohol control policies. Communication of the fact that youth alcohol consumption is problematic tends to increase parental support. Also, if policy makers are able to influence parents’ opinions on the consequences of alcohol consumption, as well as the norm of not consuming alcohol before 16 years of age, then parental support increases. Parents’ experiences with drunken youths also explain support. Factual knowledge does not influence support, so information campaigns alone do not increase parental support