DPI survey finds parents soft on underage drinking
Madison, WI (AP) - 3/17/93

A survey of WI parents disclosed a lenient attitude toward drinking by their children and may explain the problem with underage drinking, state school superintendent Herbert J. Grover says.

Grover's DPI reported Tuesday its survey of 600 parents showed 52% don't object to their teenagers having a drink on holidays and other special occasions.

Other findings included:

• about 80% agreed strongly or somewhat with the statement that all youngsters go through a phase of growing up that includes experimenting with alcohol, no matter what parents or schools advise.
• about 66% agreed with the statement that drinking intoxicants is part of WI's culture.
• 41% said they would allow their children to drink if an adult is present.
• 35% said they would allow their children to drink one or two drinks.
• 33% said schools should teach students to "drink responsibly."

The survey showed adults should "examine their own beliefs and actions about underage drinking" and work to combat it, Grover said.

His dept. advocates no drinking under age 21, a policy that evidently conflicts with the attitude of at least one-third of the parents, he said.

"What we heard from parents could explain how young people are getting over, under and even through the boundaries the state has established for alcohol consumption," he said.

Schools try to discourage cigarette smoking and reduce the glamour of drunken driving, he said.

"How can we persuade our young people that they can live alcohol-free if we don't believe it ourselves?" he asked.