All parents are concerned about their child’s future, but does the possibility of alcoholism, binge drinking or drunk driving worry you?  This can be an issue for teenagers  during high school and, especially, college but interesting research conducted in Italy may provide a twist on keeping your teen out of trouble.  The study, printed online in the journal, Addiction Research & Theory, studied specific regions in Italy to look at cultural norms and drinking practices in young people.  The researchers found that those young people who were allowed to have wine with family meals drank less and got drunk far less often, if at all, than those who were not allowed to have alcohol with meals. 

Alcoholism is a large problem in our country and although there are tests now available that can determine whether someone may be an alcoholic, the disease is often hidden and difficult to find and treat.  The conclusion of the researchers is that in Italy, the tradition of incorporating alcohol with family meals may protect against alcoholism.  While this may not translate directly to young people in the United States, the findings are promising.  The possibility of a preventive measure we can take is encouraging.

Written by www.labtestingnow.com