[Alcohol consumption in children: polling the parents]

Alcoholism is a major health problem in Spain. Frequently, the first drink is offered in the home. We report the results of a poll in which parents were asked when they offer alcohol to their children. We found that 76.1% offered alcohol anytime. Furthermore, 15% of the mothers answered that this may be of benefit to their children. Drinks with a higher level of alcohol (brandy, punch, anis) were offered more frequently after seven years of age and to those children whose mother had offered the first alcoholic beverage at an earlier age.