Through the art of children: perceptions of alcohol use and abuse

Through analysis of children's art, submitted as alcohol education posters, insight was gained as to what children believe to be the effects of alcohol use. More than 5,000 posters were submitted by children in grades one-13 in two poster contests sponsored by the Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario in 1982 and 1984. Most posters were submitted by students in grades four-eight. The most common messages were "Don't Drink" and slogans about drinking and driving. Other messages included use within the family, use with friends, use and sports, use leading to death, physical effects, and solutions to drinking. The message never to drink was prominent, but few posters advocated drinking in moderation.