The present thesis finds it's source in the developmental psychology field, with the aim to further unravel the developmental pathway from parental alcohol use to offspring alcohol-related cognitions and eventual alcohol use initiation and drinking patterns; aiming to add further insight on when and how prevention should start.

Chapter 1. General introduction p.9

Chapter 2. Young children become more aware about adult drinking norms in specific drinking contexts over time: The role of parental descriptive alcohol norms p.25

Chapter 3. Development of alcohol expectancies and early alcohol use in children and adolescents: A systematic review p.43

Chapter 4. Exposure to parental alcohol use rather than parental drinking shapes offspring’s alcohol expectancies p.69

Chapter 5. Alcohol expectancies change in early to middle adolescence as a function of the exposure to parental alcohol use p.93

Chapter 6. Exposure to drinking mediates the association between parental alcohol use and preteen alcohol use 109

Chapter 7. Most young adolescents initiate alcohol for social and enhancement motives but those who indicate coping motives binge drink and continue to do so p.125

Chapter 8. General discussion p.141