Majority of Dutch parents allow teens to drink alcohol during holidays
More than half of Dutch parents with children aged 16 or 17 are comfortable allowing their teens to consume some alcohol during the holiday season, according to a survey by the RTL News Panel.
The survey revealed that 58 percent of parents believe it is acceptable for their children to have an occasional sip of alcohol during Christmas or New Year’s celebrations. Furthermore, 53 percent of parents think it is fine for their teens to consume a full glass of alcohol on such occasions.
Many parents say they struggle with imposing a strict ban on alcohol, fearing it might lead to secretive drinking. Some prefer a more gradual introduction to alcohol consumption as their children approach adulthood.
“One glass of alcohol is fine. Champagne belongs to New Year’s Eve, and a glass of wine is part of Christmas,” one parent said. “As parents, we know what our kids are doing. At least we do.”
Another parent added, “All the generations before mine drank at that age, and I don’t feel like it affected our brains negatively.”
Addiction specialist Jacqueline Krouwel from Jellinek, a Dutch addiction treatment center, warned against allowing teens to drink. “What you’re doing by permitting it is getting your children accustomed to alcohol, and that’s not something you want,” she said.
Pediatrician Lissy de Ridder emphasized the risks of alcohol consumption for developing bodies and brains. “Alcohol is a toxic substance that is especially harmful to the liver and brain. Teenagers often don’t feel the effects of alcohol immediately, which means they can drink more and suddenly collapse.”
De Ridder pointed out that teenage brains are still developing. “Alcohol use at a young age can hinder brain development, leading to long-term effects on cognitive functions. Simply put, it can make you less intelligent because your brain doesn’t fully develop.”
Krouwel noted that the normalization of alcohol in Dutch culture plays a significant role in parental attitudes. “It’s everywhere you look. Parents want to be seen as cool and don’t want to seem stricter than others.”
She advised parents to communicate with other families to ensure consistent rules. “Make sure everyone is on the same page so you’re not tempted to allow alcohol just because other parents do. Setting boundaries is essential, and it works best when everyone sticks to the same policy.”
Some parents argue that their own early exposure to alcohol had no negative effects. Experts dismiss this as a flawed perspective.
“My grandfather smoked every day and lived to 100—does that mean smoking is healthy?” De Ridder asked rhetorically.
Krouwel added that allowing teens to drink at home could lower their threshold for drinking elsewhere. “If it’s okay at home, they’ll think it’s okay anywhere. But when they’re elsewhere, there’s no one supervising, and that increases the risk of unsafe drinking.”
