Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Parents Can Prevent Underage Drinking

Photo by Action Press / Rex Features

Parents are the #1 influence on adolescents and there proven strategies parents can use to prevent their teenagers from drinking.

1. Talk to your children early and often about alcohol and discuss your family's rules about underage drinking. Set clear and specific expectations that they not drink alcohol and explain the risks to them. The “forbidden fruit” theory is a myth. There is a growing body of research showing that youth are less likely to drink when alcohol is less available and when there are clearly communicated rules stating they should not drink alcohol.

2. Be involved. Research indicates that children are less likely to drink when their parents are involved in their lives and when they and their parents report feeling close to each other.

3. Monitor your children. Know where they are going and with whom. Network with other parents, especially the parents of your child's friends. Don’t fall prey to the line “but Mom, everyone is doing it!” Despite this strongly held belief, most teens aren’t drinking.

4. Set consequences and follow through on them.

5. Set a good example for how to use alcohol moderately or by not drinking at all.

Thanks, Sarah!

1 comment:

Paul Meunier said...

As a youth intervention worker, it is your responsibility to save the youth in drowning themselves into this habit every time problems would arise. Not only is drinking a trend to those who are at the right age, but most especially to those who are just learning to enjoy it. It is but a challenge for a youth worker as to what strategy and approach he will use in preventing underage drinking. If you are not equipped with the right tools, knowledge and skills as to how you will address this concern, My Youth Pro will be of great help to you. Preventing underage drinking is one of the areas that we integrate in our programs in order to produce competent workers for the job.
You can easily access the necessary things that you need in order to be the right fit for the job. My Youth Pro offers comprehensive online courses that you can take advantage of. You may contact us as well if you are having questions and concerns about how our program works.