The relationship between perceived parental approval of drinking and alcohol use and problems was explored with undergraduate students in a small midwestern university. Participants completed a survey measuring demographic information, perceived approval of drinking, and alcohol use and problems. Results indicated perceived parental approval of drinking was significantly related to alcohol use and problems. Path analysis demonstrated perceived parental approval of drinking affected weekly drinking quantity, alcohol use frequency, and negative consequences of alcohol indirectly through perceived friends ' approval of drinking. There was also a significant direct effect from parental approval to alcohol-use frequency. These findings suggest that parents may influence their children's drinking by mechanisms such as affecting peer selection.