Alcohol use in teens is a growing problem in our country. Many teens choose to experiment with alcohol in order to “be cool” and fit in with the crowd. Unfortunately, this decision can have serious repercussions when an immature teen overindulges. If you're concerned about this problem in your own family, here's how to prevent alcohol use by teens in your household:
Set a good example.
Many teens first learn about alcohol in their home where they watch mom and dad host parties that prominently feature alcohol. When alcohol consumption gets out of hand and the party becomes loud and raucous, many teens begin to think alcohol is “cool” and want to emulate that behavior. Plus, they think if it's okay for mom and dad, it must be acceptable for them. Don't send the wrong message to your teens.
Don't allow your teens to drink at home.
If your teen is underage, don't allow him or her to drink at home. Many parents assume that it's better to allow their teen to drink in a controlled, supervised environment as opposed to a wild, teen party. Unfortunately, this sends the wrong message to your teen who interprets your good intentions as approval of teen drinking. This makes your teen more likely to engage in drinking behavior outside of the home.
Network with other parents.
By networking with other parents, you can send a unified message to teens that underage drinking is not acceptable. Be aware of the parent's stance on alcohol if your teen will be attending a party in their home. There are too many cases where the parents of teens are condoning drinking among under aged teens and actually serving alcohol to them. Don't let this happen to your teen.
Keep the lines of communication open.
Don't be afraid to talk to your teen about the danger of using alcohol and of getting into a car with anyone under the influence. Let them know they can call you if they're ever in a situation where a group of teens is drinking.
Give your teens an alternative.
Keep your teens busy with outings and activities that won't potentially expose them to alcohol. By keeping them involved in wholesome activities, they'll make friends who are less likely to experiment with alcohol and they'll be too busy to attend parties the “wilder” parties that are so much a part of teen culture. There are probably lots of well supervised activities sponsored by schools and teen clubs in your area, why not encourage your teen to get involved?
By taking a few simple steps to become involved in your teen's life, you can help to prevent teen alcohol abuse. It might just save your teen's life.
