Young children and alcohol: a theory of attitude development.

This investigation traces the development of alcohol-related knowledge and attitudes of 228 children aged 5.5-10.5 years, using methods adapted from a study by Jahoda and Cramond (Children and Alcohol. HMSO, 1972). Preliminary results indicate that attitudes have changed little over the past 20 years. Young children's attitudes remain distinctly negative towards adult drinking, and are particularly negative in relation to women drinkers. As age increased, this negativity intensified. Moreover, girls were more condemnatory of women drinkers than were boys. The results are described in terms of a socio-cognitive theory of attitude development. The implications for primary intervention strategies are also discussed.