Men and women’s alcohol consumption by four-to-eight-year-olds: a longitudinal investigation of gendered drinking norms

Regression models were used to examine whether perceptions of consumption varied as a function of the gender of the adult, participants’ sex, and any changes over time. In illustrated pictures, children perceived men (39%) drank alcoholic beverages more often than women (24%). Men were perceived to drink alcohol more frequently than women at baseline and this difference increased with age.

Girls were more likely to perceive men drinking at baseline (aged 4-6), but there were little sex differences by time point three (aged 6-8). From a young age children perceive that men drink more than women. These perceptions strengthen as children grow older, with young girls perceiving these gender differences at earlier ages than boys.

Understanding children’s perceptions of gendered drinking norms and their development over time can enable targeted prevention efforts.