Kids do the darnedest things.

Apparently, if they see their parents buying liquor and alcohol, when given a chance to go imaginary grocery shopping, they'll come back with a pack of Marlboros and some Colt 45.

At least this is what a recently released study conducted by Dartmouth Medical College in New Hampshire says.

The study found adolescent children whose parents drink and smoke were more likely to have children who emulate these behaviors.

According to the study, children were 3.9 times as likely to buy cigarettes if their parents smoked and three times as likely to choose wine or beer if their parents drank alcohol at least once a month.

Using dolls in a role-playing game with children 2 to 6 years old, the kids were asked to take the dolls shopping because there was no food in the dollhouse. Research was drawn from what items were purchased when the doll entered the doll grocery store.

Although the merit of this study may be questionable - the research doesn't prove if children are more likely to actually begin smoking and drinking - it's worth remembering that a parent or guardian is a child's biggest influence.

The report also suggests that kids are "highly attentive" to the use and enjoyment of alcohol and tobacco, and have a well-established understanding of how they fit into social settings. Some children could pick out cigarette brands but not the names of their favorite cereals.

Something is wrong when a child is comprehending the value of cigarettes and alcohol at the same time as the color blue and the number five.

What happened to the innocence of childhood?

It is a parents' job to choose and filter what their child sees. Personal behavior is a part of that decision. If a guardian smokes or likes to enjoy an occasional drink, it doesn't mean they have to run and hide from their children. They just need to be prepared to explain the ins and outs of their habits to them.