Kids and Alcohol

Talking to your child about alcohol is not an easy thing. Your teen probably won’t want to talk to you about it, so how you ask do I proceed?

Don’t think you need to talk about everything at once. You will probably have a greater impact on them if you have a number of informal discussions as opposed to a major lecture.

Start by asking your teen what their thoughts are about teen drinking. Listen without interrupting. Try to stay away from scaring them to not drink. Instead, appeal to their self-respect. Let them know that you think they are too smart and have too much going for them to need alcohol as a crutch. Talk to your teen as to how they can avoid peer pressure. And be prepared to support them, even if they stray and get themselves into trouble. The more prepared your child is, the better he or she will be able to handle the high-pressure situations that can face them.

Prevention Strategies

• Monitor alcohol use in your home.
• Connect with other parents.
• Keep track of your child’s activities.
• Develop family rules about drinking.
• Set a good example.