Exposure to alcohol in the womb may make teenagers more attracted to the smell of liquor, suggests a new study, which may leave them vulnerable to pressure from peers who enjoy drinking.
Researchers from the State University of New York found that rats exposed to alcohol during gestation found the smell of alcohol on another rat's breath during puberty more attractive than rats that had no fetal exposure to alcohol.
In contrast, rats with no fetal exposure to alcohol were significantly less likely to be attracted to an intoxicated peer.
According to lead researcher Prof. Steven Youngentob, the findings suggest that fetal alcohol exposure promotes exposure in adolescence by making interaction with intoxicated peers more appealing.
"These results highlight an important relationship between fetal and adolescent experiences that appears essential to the progressive development of alcohol abuse," Youngentob said in a statement.
He later added: "Within the context of 'at risk' adolescents, prior exposure to ethanol may, among other things, worsen the consequences of alcohol-related social interaction by increasing teenagers' propensity to engage in such settings."
The findings are published in the journal Behavioral and Brain Functions.
According to the researchers, exposure to alcohol in the womb may train a baby's developing sense of smell to find the scent of booze more attractive.
Previous research in both rats and humans has found that fetal exposure can alter how the odour and flavour of alcohol is perceived.
This is indicative of an innate survival skill in mammals, which allows them to accept and be more attracted to the food sources that the mother consumes, the authors wrote.
The study also found that fetal alcohol exposure did not seem to have effects on behaviour in adulthood, meaning that adolescence is a key time for fetal experiences to emerge.
"Such a proposition is clinically relevant since, in humans, adolescence is a key transition point for emergent patterns of alcohol abuse," Youngentob said.
