As many as 17 percent of all eighth graders in the U.S. say they've consumed enough alcohol to get drunk in the past month, according to a 1999 study conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. That's a worrying statistic for parents, because underage drinking increases a child's risk for problems at school, involvement in alcohol-related accidents and violent crimes, and future alcohol dependency. Communicating with your child is one of the best ways to prevent teenage drinking.
Step 1
Let your teenager know how you feel about underage drinking, even if you're not completely comfortable talking to your child about such topics as drugs and alcohol. Be clear about your beliefs: If you think your teen shouldn't drink, say so. Make rules about teenage drinking that are clear and to the point.
Step 2
Be responsive when your child brings up the subject of alcohol use with you. Take a deep breath and calm down if you hear something you don't like and are tempted to get angry or criticize your child. Listen to your child without interrupting, and try to ask questions instead of just giving answers.
Step 3
Spur conversations about alcohol with commercials and movies that show alcohol use. Point out that positive portrayals of alcohol use--laughing friends and fun parties--show only part of the picture. Tell your child that alcohol can also make people feel sad and depressed or sick.
Step 4
Share your own "stupid moments" drinking stories with your child if you feel comfortable doing so. Explain to your child how drinking impaired your judgment and made you do things you wouldn't have done otherwise, and let your child know what the consequences of irresponsible alcohol use were. If you don't have any drinking stories to share, let your child know why you made the choices you did. Share stories about other people's embarrassing moments that you witnessed, especially if they were part of the reason you decided to avoid alcohol. Being honest about your experiences with drinking may carry more weight with your child than simple objective facts would.
Step 5
Get to know the parents of your child's friends so you can work together to keep alcohol out of your teens' lives. Check in with each other before parties and get-togethers to make sure events will be alcohol-free.
Step 6
Brainstorm solutions for avoiding alcohol with your child. Be specific: Don't just tell your child not to drink; help him plan practical ways to cope with situations where alcohol is offered. For instance, you might help him practice different ways to say, "No, thanks," or come up with a code word he can use if he needs to be picked up from an event without letting his friends know. Be sensitive to his concerns about peer pressure and social standing, even if you don't agree with them, and help him concoct solutions he's comfortable using.
Step 7
Encourage your child to participate in groups and activities he enjoys. A study published in the journal Alcohol Research & Health in 2002 reported that some children were less likely to engage in underage drinking when they were involved in extracurricular activities.
