Use of cigarettes and alcohol by pre-schoolers while role-playing as adults

In this US study, 120 two- to six-year-olds participated individually in role-play, selecting items from a miniature grocery store stocked with 73 different products, including beer, wine, and cigarettes, for an evening with friends. Thirty-four children (28.3%) bought cigarettes and 74 (61.7%) bought alcohol. They were more likely to buy cigarettes if their parents smoked, and buy beer or wine if their parents drank alcohol at least monthly or if they viewed PG-13- or R-rated movies. Their play suggests they have well-established perceptions about how cigarettes and alcohol fit into social settings, which may relate to behaviours adopted later in...