How to Talk Alcohol to Your Teens

You may already know teenagers are not great at moderating their own use of alcohol. Teenagers are impulsive and you will remember this because you used to be one. They have a tendency to over consume as part of being a teenager and exploring their own limits and that can create big issues for the body and the brain.

As a parent, you may want to wrap your child up in cotton wool and prevent them from ever having a sip of alcohol in their lives, but that’s not realistic, is it? You can talk until you’re blue in the face about the things that can go wrong or the illegalities of alcohol being consumed underage. But unless you are taking to shock tactics talking to them about why they may need a lawyer because they’ve been arrested due to drink driving, or looking up sexual offence solicitors, you’re going to have to find ways to hammer it home while also giving them the space to explore. We all know that drinking is dangerous when it’s consumed too young, and we all know that adults can make bad decisions when it comes to alcohol. 

However, it’s important that you talk to your teenagers about alcohol so that they understand what can go wrong and why. Here’s some inspiration:

Be real. If you tried to ban your teenager from drinking, the first thing they’re going to do is find a way to get some alcohol and start drinking. It’s one of those taboo things. They’re going to rebel and they’re going to get go against you. Instead, talk about the consequences of teenage drinking, talk to them about safe teenage drinking and talk to them about what it could lead to: Contracting an STD, having a dependence or an addiction develop very early, impair their reasoning, poison them, create aggressive or fighting behaviour, unplanned sexual activity – the list goes on.

Lead by example. You do have to set the example that as a parent and as an adult, you don’t need to have alcohol in your life to be fulfilled. Every adult knows that it’s nice to have a glass of wine or a glass of spirits from time to time to be able to unwind after a long day. It should be a complement to your life rather than something you rely on, so you have to model that behaviour. If you’re telling your kids you need wine to be able to relax and that becomes an everyday thing, they’re going to see the connection between wine and relaxation. If they talk about going to a location and you start saying that there’s no beer so it’s going to suck, then they’re going to think that they need beer to have fun. Be the parental example they need.

    Don’t lie. It’s OK to tell your kids about the fun times you had while you had a drink. It’s OK to be open and honest about your past, especially if you edit it to be more teenage friendly in your language. You don’t want to be a hypocrite and it’s not your job to lay down the law and ban them from ever doing anything fun. However, you have to explain to your children that they can feel empowered by not needing alcohol to have fun.

    This is a collaborative post.

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