Talking about Underage Drinking

With an almost teenager in the house, underage drinking and all of the dangers it entails is an issue that is important to us right now. I’m not a big drinker, but I do enjoy the odd glass, though obviously not right now being pregnant! Papa drinks occasionally at home, and if he goes out. The kiddos have grown up with us having parties now and then where alcohol is involved. We’ve always talked, and been open and honest about why people drink, the effects it has on us, and why it’s not good to drink too much.

I’m not anti-drinking, however, I want my children to grow up knowing the facts, to be able to talk to me, and to have the confidence to make their own decisions. Open lines of communication are essential, I do believe that outright banning anything simply makes children more inclined to go and do it anyway, as well as doing it behind their parents back. As a teenager, I was allowed to have the occasional drink at home, a glass of wine with a Sunday Roast, the odd drink at Christmas time or a wedding. Because I could, I didn’t’ feel the need to drink to excess behind my parent’s back.

My eldest is eleven and a half, so not quite at an age where she is out on her own in an evening, or at a friends house where there may be unsupervised access to alcohol just yet, but now is the key time to talk to her. We’ve discussed before why drinking is dangerous, especially for teenagers – there is clear evidence that alcohol can harm the developing brain, bones and hormones, as well as the increased risk of injuries, sexual activity and substance misuse.

Teaching alcohol responsibility begins at home, if your children see you drinking responsibly, they are more likely to do so themselves. Teaching our children that it is alright to say no, that you don’t have to drink just because your friends are, and to have the confidence in themselves to walk away are essentials. Making sure that 10-13 year olds are fully aware of the facts is incredibly important.

I’ve been looking through the Drinkaware website – they have a great section on Underage Drinking and all of the associated risks. It’s made me think about things, and actually encouraged me to have a more specific chat with Lola. It’s a great website, if you’re unsure of the dangers there is a list of all the risks underage drinking comes with. I especially like the ‘How to talk to your child‘ section – if you’re struggling to raise this subject with your children, or unsure of how to answer the questions that they have, this is full of fantastic advice.

Have you talked to your children about the dangers of underage drinking? Do you think it’s an important issue for parents to be aware of?

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