Parental alcohol misuse has detrimental effects on the entire family. In particular, the safety and general health of the children of parents with alcohol abuse/dependence are of concern to health authorities around the globe. The present study aimed to examine the impact of parental history of alcohol abuse/dependence on the age of first alcohol intake in adult patients with alcohol dependence. Questionnaire data were collected from 294 (57 females) patients with alcohol dependence (M ± SD, 42 ± 10.96 years). The majority of males (61.2%) and over half (50.9%) of females reported no history of parental alcohol abuse/dependence. Male patients with alcohol dependence were less likely to report living with both parents with alcohol abuse/dependence than female patients with alcohol abuse/dependence (p < 0.05). However, male patients who lived with both parents with alcohol abuse/dependence were younger at first alcohol intake than their female counterparts (median age: 12.00 vs. 18.00, p = 0.002) and males raised by parents without alcohol abuse/dependence (median age: 12.00 vs. 16.00, p = 0.036). Our findings suggest that age at first alcohol intake may serve as a marker of household dysfunction, including poor parental management. Our study supports the global need for systemic interventions to help alcohol abusing/dependent parents to carry out their parental responsibilities.