Teen drinking linked to higher internet use

WASHINGTON, USA: Teenagers who drink alcohol spend more time on their computers for social networking, downloading and listening to music compared to peers who don't drink.

These results are based on an anonymous survey of 264 teenagers by Weill Cornell Medical College researcher Jennifer Epstein.

"It seems likely that adolescents are experimenting with drinking and activities on the internet," Epstein was reported as saying by the journal Addictive Behaviours.

In turn, exposure to online material such as alcohol ads or alcohol-using peers on social networking sites could reinforce teens' drinking, added Epstein, assistant professor of public health at Weill Cornell.

"Children are being exposed to computers and the internet at younger ages. For this reason it's important that parents are actively involved in monitoring their children's computer usage, as well as alcohol use," she said, according to a Weill Cornell statement.

"According to a national study..., more than half of parents of teenagers had filters installed on the computers their child uses to block content parents find objectionable, yet many parents do not use any form of parental monitoring, particularly for older teens."

The Weill Cornell survey was completed by participants aged 13 to 17. Drinking was also linked to more frequent social networking and listening to and downloading music. There was no strong link between video games and drinking or online shopping and drinking.