Childhood, family, alcohol

Drawing together international research from the fields of geography, alcohol studies, sociology, psychology and childhood studies, this book explores children?s understanding and experiences of the consumption of alcohol and the role of alcohol in family life.

It addresses both extra-familial ?norms? about parenting cultures and drinking cultures which are generated in wider society (through law/regulation, media/advertising and social networks) and intra-familial ?norms?, including the modelling behaviour of family members? (such as positive attitudes to alcohol and drinking habits or initiating children to drinking, as well as looking at the interplay of the two types of ?norm?.

The book also discusses the parent?s often unconscious or self-reflexive influence on children, as well as personal home rules generated within individual families (which are often adopted from one generation to the next).

In doing so, the book explores the relationship between past, present and future by understanding whether parents identify any links between their own childhood experiences of alcohol and present adulthood drinking; and how, if at all, present family practices might impact on their children?s potential future drinking.

Empirical case studies illustrate the specific issues and topics as well as the research methods and findings.