Early exposure to alcohol can lead kids to later harm

There's no evidence to gently introducing alcohol to children can prevent harm later on. (Melanie Foster/AAP PHOTOS)

Even a supervised glass of beer or wine can expose children to a much higher risk of alcohol abuse in early adulthood.

An Australian study published in the journal Addiction on Tuesday finds that 12-year-olds exposed to alcohol are more likely to suffer from binge drinking, alcohol dependence or abuse in early adulthood than those that first drink at age 18.