A British think-tank recently published a study on excessive alcohol consumption which found a correlation between the children of divorce and what they defined as “problematic drinking behaviors.”  As reported by James Hall, the Consumer Affairs Editor of The Telegraph, the group, Demos, found that sixteen year olds who had “disengaged parents” and were subjected to the instability and stress of divorce and/or separation were eight times more likely to drink excessively compared to those kids whose parents were engaged in their lives. The results could help shape the alcohol policy of United Kingdom’s Department of Health.

Demos further found that parents who put strict parameters on their children’s lives (“tough love”) made a major difference in a variety of outcomes for the children, including how they handled and addressed their consumption of alcohol as teens.

Not surprisingly, but worth reinforcing, was the conclusion that strong support networks (or the absence thereof) had a major impact on how children recovered and prospered after a divorce.  The connection between an individual’s relationship towards alcohol and their home life not surprising and the outcome of the Demos study demonstrates how important it is for parents to set aside their personal problems related to a divorce and create a stable environment for their children.