New figures: 4 in 10 parents find it difficult to address their teenager’s drinking habits

09.06.2025 - Talking to teenagers about alcohol isn’t always easy—especially when they start upper secondary school and parties become more frequent. Parents are often less involved in their child’s school life than they were during primary school. Still, it pays to have the conversation: research shows that setting agreements around alcohol makes a difference.

A new study from the Danish Cancer Society and TrygFonden shows that nearly 4 out of 10 parents find it harder to talk about alcohol once their child starts upper secondary school.

Yet, parents remain important. “We know that young people who have clear agreements with their parents about alcohol drink less than those who don’t,” says Peter Dalum, project manager at the Danish Cancer Society. “So parents have much to gain by sticking with the sometimes difficult conversation.”

Well-intentioned efforts can backfire

Starting to drink alcohol early and consuming a lot as a young person increases the risk of drinking more later in life. Alcohol also raises the risk of several diseases—including cancer—and can lead to accidents or actions you later regret.

The Danish Health Authority recommends that children and young people under 18 should not drink alcohol. Still, many parents introduce alcohol at home, hoping to teach their child to “drink responsibly.”In fact, 40 percent of parents who introduce alcohol at home say it is to teach their child how to handle it sensibly.

More than half of parents of 13–17-year-olds surveyed have already introduced their child to alcohol at home, and one in five plan to do so if they haven’t yet. But this strategy rarely works as intended.

“This is a misunderstood approach,” says Peter Dalum. “Research shows that children actually end up drinking more when parents introduce alcohol at home. So it often has the opposite effect.”

Agreements work—but not everyone makes them

Eighty-four percent of parents in the study believe that making agreements with their child about alcohol is effective when they start upper secondary school. Still, not all parents do this in practice. But parental involvement in teenagers’ drinking habits is crucial, says Søren Stokholm Thomsen, project manager at TrygFonden:

“Denmark remains the European country where most 15–16-year-olds get drunk, and parenting agreements can help steer young people’s drinking habits in a healthier direction,” he says.

It’s also worth noting that many teenagers are open to parental involvement. The report “Young people’s alcohol habits 2023” found that nearly half (48 percent) of 15–20-year-olds living at home have a positive attitude towards their parents setting limits on their drinking.

“It’s important for parents to have conversations and make clear agreements—even when their children start upper secondary school,” says Søren Stokholm Thomsen.

About the study

The figures come from a new study by the Danish Cancer Society and TrygFonden, which explores parents’ attitudes toward and knowledge about alcohol use among their own children and young people in general.

The report, “Parents’ attitudes towards young people’s alcohol habits 2024,” is based on a survey of 1,517 parents with at least one child aged 13–17. Data was collected by Epinion in spring 2024.

What can parents do?

It can be tough for parents to talk about alcohol as their children become teenagers who go to parties and may start drinking. How do you address the subject? And do your children even listen?

These are common concerns, but support is available. At www.alkoholdning.dk, parents can find inspiration for starting conversations, making agreements, and taking a stand together with their teenager. The website is part of “Full of Life,” the alcohol initiative from the Danish Cancer Society and TrygFonden.