The Best Things Parents Can Do to Prevent Teenage Drinking l Teens Drinking l Warning Signs of Teens Drinking l Parents and Drinking

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Underage drinking kills over 6,000 kids a year more than any other drug combined and over 40 percent of 10th graders drink alcohol, Mothers Against Drunk Driving cited. About 3 out of 4 teens acknowledged that it was their parents that influenced whether they drank or not, not their peers. Armed with this knowledge, it makes sense for parents to be active in their child's life and exhibit a positive influence. Many parents under-estimate the influence they have on their kids when it comes to substance abuse. Unfortunately, it just takes one mistake to create a lot of tragedy. Additionally, many parents drink in front of their kids and do not explain the consequences of overindulging. Kids need to understand there is a difference between drinking a glass of Merlot verses getting drunk. Here are the best things parents can do to prevent teens from drinking.

Be Firm, but Loving

There is an old and deadly concept used by parents to teach their kids a lesson when they are caught doing something wrong. Let’s say that a kid is found smoking. Parents might make them smoke a whole pack to make it so miserable that he or she never does it again. This can be deadly as two parents from Wyoming found out when they caught their son drinking. They made their teen drink enough to make him hate it. However, the consequences were deadly, and the kid died from alcohol poisoning. There are other ways to make a point. Teach them that underage drinking is not acceptable. Communicate the dangers for their health, and how it can affect their future in a firm, but in a loving matter, not with corporeal punishment.

Communication

Start communicating to your child about the negative impacts on alcohol when they start in middle school. Set the standard early by telling them not to drink, and list the reasons why. You can talk about television advertisements, or about the impact drunk driving has on society. Share about the destruction alcohol has on the brain and development that are irreversible. Plant the seeds early so it is easier when they get older. With 26 percent of kids admitting they started drinking before 8th grade, parents should be armed and start the conversation. Early on, tell them do not get in a car with someone who was drinking, and to always find a designated driver. Let them know they need to call you if they are ever in trouble.

Avoid Being in Denial

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Many parents don’t believe that their kid is drinking, or involved in negative behavior. Kids are deceptive, so make sure you are ready to ask and answer questions. Sometimes parents cover their kid’s wrong behavior and this enables them to continue to go down a wrong path. Take the blinders off and realize that your kid is just fallible as any other child. Know that everyone needs accountability. You should protect your kids when a situation warrants it, if there are false accusations launched, but constantly rescuing a teen if they are engaging in negative behavior is dangerous. Parents who are in denial will risk hurting their child in the long run.