Start Talking Before They Start Drinking
A Family Guide

You Are the Most Powerful Influence on Your Child's Behavior

Underage drinking can have serious consequences. You can protect your children from the risks associated with drinking by maintaining open communication and expressing a clear, consistent message about alcohol. Building a close relationship with your kids will encourage them to come to you for help in making decisions that impact their health and well-being. This guide provides facts and practical advice on how to talk with your children about underage drinking. It helps you create household rules to support your values.

There are six actions you can take today to help keep your child alcohol free.

TALK EARLY AND OFTEN WITH YOUR CHILD
> Establish and maintain an open line of communication.
> Get into the habit of talking with your child every day. This will make it easier for you to have conversations about serious subjects when necessary.

GET INVOLVED
> Talking with your child about his or her activities opens up an opportunity for you to share your interests and values.
> Young people are much less likely to have mental health and substance abuse problems when they have positive activities to do and when caring adults are involved in their lives.

Be aware of what is going on in your home. Two out of three teens aged 13-18 said it is easy to get alcohol from their own homes without their parents knowing it. 30

TEACH KIDS TO CHOOSE FRIENDS WISELY

> Teach your child how to form positive relationships.
> Help your child to understand what qualities to look for in a friend.

MONITOR YOUR CHILD’S ACTIVITIES
> Know where your children are and get acquainted with their friends.
> Limit the amount of time your children spend without an adult being present. Unsupervised children have more opportunities to experiment with risky behaviors, including the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs, and they may start substance abuse at earlier ages.

SET RULES
> Make clear, sensible rules for your child and enforce them with consistency and appropriate consequences.
> Following these rules can help protect your child’s physical safety and mental well-being, which can lower his or her risk for substance abuse problems.

Set Clear Rules About Alcohol

Set clear rules about alcohol.

BE SPECIFIC
> Tell your children what the law is, what your household rules are, and what behavior you expect. For example, “Alcohol is for adults. Do not drink alcohol until you are 21. Our family follows the law.”

BE CONSISTENT
> Be sure your children understand that the rules are maintained at all times, and that the rules hold true even at other people’s houses. Follow your own rules.

RECOGNIZE GOOD BEHAVIOR
> Always let your children know how pleased you are when they respect the rules of the household.

PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
> Write out your most important family rules and post them clearly where they are seen often by everyone in the family. Then review the rules regularly with your family on your children’s birthday or at the beginning of the school year.