Alcohol from parents.

Commenting on reports that some private schools had cancelled their formals amid concern about parents giving alcohol to underage students at pre-formal parties, Paul Dillon, of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, said it was naive of parents to believe they could control the amount drunk at parties. Allowing underage drinking was also sending a mixed message to children. He said parents' belief that alcohol was 'better than illicit drugs' was simplistic, and many young people tried such drugs for the first time while drunk. Alcohol was also the biggest cause of drug-related deaths (Sydney Morning Herald, 16/6/03, p.1).