Where are parents on underage drinking?

It’s summertime, but the mood is uneasy.

In a season when adults believe youths are most likely to drink, too many parents appear willing to ignore or even tacitly encourage such behavior, finds an online survey conducted for Caron Treatment Centers.

The Harris Interactive survey of 848 adults ages 18 to 40 found that only two of five respondents recalled their parents having had a zero-tolerance attitude about underage drinking. And now some of that outlook persists: 41% of those surveyed said they believe it’s preferable for teens to learn to drink responsibly in their high school years rather than wait until they are of age. Caron points out that from what is known about brain development, responsible drinking in the teen years becomes an impossibility.

In a news release from Caron, a 27-year-old graduate of the Caron Renaissance treatment program insisted that today’s youths need better role modeling from parents around responsible behavior. “There’s a tremendous amount of pressure today—and the influence of supportive and decisive adults, with a clear set of boundaries and rules, is invaluable,” she said.

The survey results found that 61% of adults believe teens are most likely to use alcohol in the summer season, and 83% believe the Fourth of July is the leading summer holiday for excess drinking.

Looking back on their own youth, nearly one-third of respondents said their parents had accepted underage drinking in ways ranging from actually providing the alcohol to simply ignoring the topic in discussions.