PARENTS can help to keep their teenage children out of trouble by giving them a weekly allowance of alcohol, a British study has found.

Teenagers who rely on obtaining their own supplies of cheap alcohol are much more likely to be involved in violence and other forms of bad behaviour, it is claimed.

Researchers, led by Professor Mark Bellis, from the Faculty of Applied Health and Social Science at Liverpool John Moores University, conducted a drinking survey of almost 10,000 young teenagers aged 15 to 16 in the North-West. They found almost 30% of the youngsters had experienced violence when drunk and 12.5% reported having sexual encounters they regretted.

But how the teenagers obtained their alcohol made a significant difference.

No teenage drinking was risk-free, the researchers said. However, teenagers were more likely to get into trouble if they bought cheap alcohol themselves.

Just under 20% of teens who drank once a week and were supplied with alcohol by their parents had been involved in violence.