Underage Drinking

As your child becomes curious about alcohol, he or she may turn to you for answers and advice. Use this opportunity to start an open, honest conversation about drinking. Because some questions can be difficult to answer, it is important to be prepared. The following are some common questions and answers about underage drinking.

“I got invited to a party. Can I go?”

Ask your child if an adult will be present at the party or if he or she thinks children will be drinking. Remind your child that even being at a party where there is underage drinking can get him or her into trouble. Use this time to establish or reinforce your rules about alcohol and outline the behavior you expect.

“Why do you drink?”

Make a distinction between alcohol use among children and among adults. Explain to your child your reasons for drinking: whether it is to enhance a meal, share good times with friends, or celebrate a special occasion. Point out that if you choose to drink, it is always in moderation. Tell your child that some people should not drink at all, including underage children.

“Did you drink when you were a kid?”

Don’t let your past stop you from talking to your child about underage drinking. If you drank as a teenager, be honest. Acknowledge that it was risky. Make sure to emphasize that we now know even more about the risks to children who drink underage. You could even give your child an example of a painful moment that occurred because of your underage drinking.

“What if my friends ask me to drink?”

Helping your child say “no” to peer pressure is one of the most important things you can do to keep him or her alcohol-free. Work with your child to think of a way to handle this situation, whether it is simply saying, “No, I don’t drink,” or saying, “I promised my mom (or dad) that I wouldn’t drink.”

Do you know when is a good time to talk with your kids about high risk behavior, like underage drinking and drunk, drugged or distracted driving?

Now. And tomorrow. And the day after...

Research shows that parents are the #1 reason young people decide not to use drugs and alcohol. So, start talking to your kids about early and often.

One more tool we like to offer parents of teens who are riding with or driving peers is the Students Against Destructive Driving (SADD) Contract for Life. This Contract is designed to facilitate communication between young people and their parents about potentially destructive decisions related to alcohol, other drugs, peer pressure, and behavior. Edit it, make it work for your family and your expectations, but have the conversation and keep the dialogue going!

April is Alcohol Awareness Month
Underage drinking risks immediate consequences, including impaired driving, alcohol poisoning, and increased risk of sexual assault, but studies also reveal that 90% percent of long-term addictions start in the teen years. Connecting Youth encourages you to educate yourself and your loved ones about the importance of early education on alcoholism and addiction.
In Vermont, 30% of high school students reported drinking alcohol in the past 30 days, according to the 2015 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey. To spread the word and prevent alcohol abuse among youth in Vermont, Connecting Youth partners with ParentUp (http://parentupvt.org), an initiative of the Vermont Department of Health.
Drugs and alcohol are not easy topics to bring up, especially with children and teens who may often seem like they’re not listening. But the truth is that the #1 reason kids give for not drinking is that they don’t want to disappoint their parents. Children do care deeply about their parents’ opinions—even if they don’t show it directly.
Parents can help prevent alcohol and other drug use with the following strategies:

Set the foundation by helping your child develop key skills, experiences, relationships, and behaviors
Talk about alcohol, drugs, and mental health issues
Monitor your teen
Spread the word and make connections with other parents
Know the warning signs

Learn more about these strategies and how to take action by visiting http://parentupvt.org.
If you think your teen is drinking or using drugs, find information and help at: