In recent decades, drug use and abuse has had a tremendous impact on our society. The most widespread drug problem is the abuse of alcohol by both the young and the old. In spite of the struggle for independence and freedom, the drinking habits of teenagers greatly reflect those of the adults in their lives. There is considerable evidence that the values and the attitudes that adolescents have toward alcohol are most often determined by specific experiences they have with adult figures.
Children often observe adults misuse alcohol to reduce tensions or to cope with a tough situation.
Children learn by what they live and their development is affected by the consistency between what parents say and what they do. Day to day observations of the adult world supply our children with society's expectations for them in tomorrow's world.