10 Ways to Tackle Teen Drinking

1. Build trust
   The website CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov states, “The best way to influence your child to avoid drinking is to have a strong, trusting relationship with him or her.  Research shows that teens are much more likely to delay drinking when they feel they have a close, supportive tie with a parent or guardian.”  It is clear that open and honest dialogue between parent and child is vital.

2. Absorb the stats
   In a general sense, we tend to think of high school age children as teen drinkers. Shockingly, over 1/3 of middle school students have tried alcohol by 8th grade. Stats provided by the CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov state 17% of 8th graders reported drinking alcohol in the past month. 34% of 8th graders reported drinking in the past year. 64% of 8th graders report alcohol is easy to obtain. And, most startling is that more girls than boys ages 12-17 reported drinking alcohol.

3. Set the example
   Your child is always watching you - every single behavior and mannerism. Alcohol is a legal beverage for those ages 21 and above, so there is nothing wrong with a parent reasonably consuming adult beverages in moderation. Many studies show a glass of wine to be one of the world’s best stress relievers. That being said, those eyes are still watching. Never let your child witness you involved in reckless consumption. Always set the example of the behavior you wish to see in your children.

4. Understand the reasons
   From MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, comes the following reasons reported by teens as to why they drink: boredom, peer pressure, escape from difficult challenges, celebration and it’s easily available   This is terrific insight. Think of your own child’s tendencies and pinpoint which items on this list might attract them to drinking and address them accordingly.

5. Discuss the consequences
   Also from MADD comes the following list of possible consequences of teen drinking to discuss with your child:  Could be kicked off a sports team, college scholarships could be jeopardized, driving privileges may be lost, jail time, pregnancy and even death.

6. Know that drinking is the gateway to more risky behavior
   An estimated 3.3 million teenagers in the US are alcoholics. Teens who begin drinking at age 14 are 4 times more likely to become alcoholics than those who postpone drinking until age 21.  And virtually all teens hooked on drugs started with drinking.  And teens who had their first drink before age 13 were twice as likely to have unplanned sex and more than twice as likely to have unprotected sex.

7. Have a counteroffensive
   To minimize the chances your kids will start drinking, provide your teen a stable and secure place to live. Kids are very vulnerable to trauma and strong tension in the household.  The more fun and attractive you make your home and family life, the less your teen will want to drink.

8. Imago Dei
   Imago Dei is Latin for “in the image of God.” If you believe in God, share with your children that they are created to reflect His glory and they matter a whole lot to Him.  And what they do to their body matters.  We are God’s temple, and we need to treat ourselves accordingly.

9. Know the signs
   Possible indicators of teen alcohol use include: sudden depression, lower grades, irresponsibility and irritability. If you keep alcohol in your home, always been conscious of your exact inventory. Missing bottles of beer and lower levels of scotch do not just occur by accident.

10. Give them all of your heart
    There is no way to ever protect your child from every single bad thing that could happen to him. But many are preventable with one simple solution. Give every single piece of yourself to being a parent. You are reading this list because you care enough to do so. 100% effort is required on your part at all times. Your child is a part of you. Don’t let yourself down.

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