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 adap ted from a study by Jahoda and Cramond (Children and Alcohol. HMSO, 19 72). Preliminary results indicate that attitudes have changed little o ver the past 20 years. Young children's attitudes remain distinctly ne gative towards adult drinking, and are particularly negative in relati on to women drinkers. As age increased, this negativity intensified. M oreover, girls were more condemnatory of women drinkers than were boys . The results are described in terms of a socio-cognitive theory of at titude development. The implications for primary intervention strategi es are also discussed.