How to Stop Teenage Drinking

In the past, the most common approach to curbing teen alcohol abuse was a prohibitive one--simply telling kids not to drink, and assessing punishment for a violation. But we now know that this is ineffective; furthermore, teens who come from a background of abstinence are more likely to drink inappropriately than those who come from a background of moderate consumption.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

How to Stop Teenage Drinking

1. Recognize that curbing teen drinking is not just a family matter; it's important to support school and community programs that help combat this problem directly (through educational outreach about the consequences of irresponsible drinking) or indirectly (by offering constructive alternatives to drinking).

2. Be a good role model. Although teen behavior is heavily influenced by peers, teens tend to choose their peers based in large part on parental influence. A mentor outside the family can also make a significant difference. If you drink, drink responsibly.

3. Help establish community laws and practices that make it difficult for youngsters to access alcohol. This could include the development of after-school and extracurricular activities, as well as the "cops in shops" program, which places undercover police in stores that sell liquor to monitor them for age violations.

4. Learn as much as you can about alcohol and its effects on the human body and behavior. Pass this information along to your children--without being preachy, of course.

5. Encourage a positive self-image. Low self-esteem is a common problem among teens, and is one of the major motivators for turning to alcohol. Help your teen learn to deal with stress and pressure in constructive ways--the martial arts are one example of an excellent builder of discipline and self-image.

Tips & Warnings

• Become acquainted with the parents of your teen's friends. This will give you greater peace of mind about your teen's peers, and help keep you advised of potential risk factors. Know where your teen is at all times and establish regular contact with her.
• You teen is at risk for alcohol abuse if you spot any of the following symptoms: unusual moodiness, low self-esteem, new peers or a reluctance to tell you anything about peers, loss of enthusiasm or interest in activities, behavioral problems at school. These indicators often appear without the presence of alcohol, but consider them red flags.

References

• FamilyDoctor.org
• Century Council

Resources

• Stop Teen Drinking
• Stop Underage Drinking