How to deal with teen drinking
As teenagers push the boundaries they may think about experimenting with alcohol to feel more grown up. Keeping these ‘grown up’ things from their parents is part of them exercising their independence.
Is it ok to let your kids drink at home?
Remember It’s ok to say nay Research shows that over the past decade there has been a decline in the prevalence of underage drinking in Australia. In fact, most 14-17 year old teenagers abstain from drinking alcohol (69%)1 and the majority (89%) of parents aren’t supplying their underage teenagers with alcohol.2 However, for those underage teenagers who are drinking, 36.1% reported their main source of alcohol was supplied by their parents in 2022-23.3
This uptick in parents supplying alcohol to their underage teens is particularly concerning as research shows that following serves of alcohol an adolescent is more likely to report binge drinking, experience alcohol-related harm (e.g., accidents, blackouts and fights) and problematic drinking in their future adolescent years.4 We know that abstaining from alcohol when underage helps protect teenagers, so we want to reassure parents that setting rules and boundaries, as well as setting consequences if these are broken, is the right thing to do.
Dealing with a drunken teen
If your teen comes home intoxicated, you have a problem that needs to be dealt with quickly. It’s normal to feel disappointed, but it’s also not the time to overreact. As a parent, it’s up to you to take control and manage the situation appropriately. You have to be firm and decisive in what to do next.
It may be years before your teen lets on about their first experience with alcohol, but the signs are there and unmistakable. Some of the more obvious things to look out for include slurred speech, the smell of alcohol on their breath or clothes and a change in mood or demeanour.
Raise the issue with them calmly and rationally:
- If you suspect they have been drinking, explain that you are aware they are probably drinking, and that you are concerned about their actions.
- If they come home drunk, wait until they have sobered up and then put them to bed. Let them know you’ll talk to them the next morning. By then hopefully you’ll be calmer, and they may be more likely to accept your opinion and guidance.
- Explain the range of risks involved with drinking. They may not agree but they need to understand where you are coming from, and why you are concerned.
- Try to find out what has led to this incident – it may not be “just a stage”. (is it due to peer pressure? Boredom? Curiosity?)
- Set clear boundaries and outline your expectations.
- Seek help from your GP or health professional if you are worried it’s becoming regular behaviour.
- Most importantly, make sure your teen knows you will always be there for them, and that they can call you if they run into trouble, whatever happens and at whatever time.
Delaying the introduction of alcohol until your child is an adult starts at home – it’s one of the most important things you can do as a parent. According to renowned adolescent psychologist, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg “parents should make the smart choice and just say no to supplying their underage teenagers with alcohol.”
DrinkWise - Kids and Alcohol Don't Mix brochureMore information
The following resources may help you say nay to underage teenage drinking and plan to have a conversation with your teenager:
- It’s okay to say nay
- Talking to your teen about alcohol
- Developing a consistent approach to teen drinking with your partner
- Is supplying alcohol to teens legal?
- Setting family rules around alcohol
- Is your drinking influencing your kids?
- DrinkWise campaigns for parents
- Alcohol and your health – DrinkWise body health tool
- Dr Andrew Rochford – Kids and Alcohol video
- Dr Andrew Rochford – Delaying underage teenage drinking
References
- In 2022-23, 69% of underage teenagers (14-17 years) abstained from drinking alcohol in the previous 12 months (National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2022-23).
(NB: this statistic is an updated calculation of underage abstinence and consumption rates as recommended by AIHW and in line with the 2020 Australian Alcohol Guidelines.) - In consultation with AIHW, “89% of parents don’t supply their underage teenagers alcohol” was calculated based on the National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022-23 dataset, similar to Chan et. al.’s (2017) paper, the statistic reflects norms around parental supply of alcohol to minors and was calculated using a) the percentage of 14-17 year olds who drank alcohol in the past 12 months (see Table 4.6) and b) of those 14-17 year olds who drank alcohol in the past 12 months, the percentage who reported their usual supply of alcohol were from parents (see Table 4.10).
- 36.1% of 14-17 year olds who drink alcohol reported their parents were their usual source of alcohol supply in 2022-23 (National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2022-23).
- Aiken, A., Chan, G., Yuen, W. et al. (2022). Trajectories of parental and peer supply of alcohol in adolescence and associations with later alcohol consumption and harms: A prospective cohort study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 237, 109533.
It’s my party – why can’t I drink if I want to?
Although underage abstinence has increased significantly in the past 20 years, some underage teenagers may feel pressure from some peers to experiment with alcohol at parties, but parents are feeling pressure too.
Parents of teenagers have it tough. You’re competing for your kids’ attention with friends, devices, and outside influences beyond your control. You can’t always control everything in your teenagers’ life – but the one thing you can do is set boundaries when it comes to alcohol. Some teenagers think that an alcohol-free party will be boring, placing considerable pressure on parents to supply drinks – but this is risky and dangerous.
It’s important to consider the dangers to developing bodies and brains, as well as the legalities of supplying alcohol to underage teenagers and to be aware that the overwhelming majority (89%)1 of Australian parents aren’t supplying their underage teenagers with alcohol and the majority of underage teenagers in Australia are choosing not to drink alcohol (69%)2.
Laws surrounding underage drinking are getting tougher, so it’s important you are aware of your legal obligations. Most states and territories now have secondary supply laws, and others are considering legislation, meaning it’s illegal for an adult to provide alcohol to an under 18 without the consent of that person’s parent.
Allowing your teenager alcohol at home can worsen the situation. A small amount of parents believe that allowing their kids to drink at home will help demystify alcohol, but this is not necessarily correct. Allowing a drink at home can be seen as approval of alcohol, lowering the barriers for teens to drink in other environments. Research shows that following serves of alcohol an adolescent is more likely to report binge drinking, experience alcohol-related harm (e.g., accidents, blackouts and fights) and problematic drinking in their future adolescent years.3 We know that abstaining from alcohol when underage helps protect teenagers, so we want to reassure parents that setting rules and boundaries, as well as setting consequences if these are broken, is the right thing to do.
The overwhelming majority of Australian parents don’t supply their kids with alcohol. So, parents, be confident that you are helping your kids make the smart choice by saying no if asked.
Tips to manage your teen’s objections to an alcohol-free party:
- Explain yourself. Tell them about the risks involved and your concerns about their physical, psychological and social health, and ensure they understand your legal obligations. They may not agree, but they have to understand why you created the rules that exist in your home.
- Don’t be afraid to say ‘no’ if they ask you for alcohol at their party.
- Challenge unfounded statements. For example, if your teen tells you that you are the ‘only Mum who won’t let us drink at a party’, don’t let it go unchallenged. Remember, the overwhelming majority (89%) of Australian parents aren’t supplying alcohol for their underage teenagers. If your teenager insists it’s the truth, ask them for the names and numbers of five parents who provide alcohol. Talk to those parents, and make sure other parents know your views.
- Develop a ‘risk assessment’ plan with your teen. It’s important that they understand the responsibility you’re undertaking by holding a teenage party. Sit down with them and develop a risk assessment plan, which clearly outlines all of the things that could go wrong throughout the night. For every risk that’s identified, have your teenager develop an appropriate response. Hopefully it’ll become clear that even an alcohol-free party can be risky, so adding alcohol could be trouble.
- Be aware of your legal obligations.
- Remember the risks and be responsible – even if it makes you unpopular
For tips on talking to your teenagers about alcohol, check out the DrinkWise tips for talking to your teen about alcohol.
DrinkWise - Kids and Alcohol Don't Mix brochureReferences
- In consultation with AIHW, “89% of parents don’t supply their underage teenagers alcohol” was calculated based on the National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022-23 dataset, similar to Chan et. al.’s (2017) paper, the statistic reflects norms around parental supply of alcohol to minors and was calculated using a) the percentage of 14-17 year olds who drank alcohol in the past 12 months (see Table 4.6) and b) of those 14-17 year olds who drank alcohol in the past 12 months, the percentage who reported their usual supply of alcohol were from parents (see Table 4.10).
- In 2022-23, 69% of underage teenagers (14-17 years) abstained from drinking alcohol in the previous 12 months (National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2022-23).
(NB: this statistic is an updated calculation of underage abstinence and consumption rates as recommended by AIHW and in line with the 2020 Australian Alcohol Guidelines. - Aiken, A., Chan, G., Yuen, W. et al. (2022). Trajectories of parental and peer supply of alcohol in adolescence and associations with later alcohol consumption and harms: A prospective cohort study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 237, 109533.
Talking to your teen about alcohol
For some parents, talking to their teenager about alcohol and setting rules and boundaries to keep them safe can be tricky and daunting. However, no matter how overwhelming these conversations are, it is vital that they are happening early and often to keep our kids safe. While parents understand that it’s their responsibility to create strategies and educate their kids on when, where and how to drink, it can be difficult working out how to provide this guidance.
According to renowned adolescent psychologist, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg (pictured left) “it’s vital that parents keep the lines of communication open through the teenager years and to make sure you are having open and honest discussions about alcohol.”
“My advice to parents is to start the conversation around alcohol early and have it often so you can help your underage teenagers make the smart choice and say no to drinking alcohol while underage.” Dr Carr-Gregg said.
Tips for talking to your teenager
Be prepared.
Teenagers will raise the topic of alcohol if and when they’re ready to talk. Be ready to have the conversation and address their queries – that’s when they’re most open to hear your advice. Remember to plan what you want to say ahead of time. Don’t just wait for them though, set you expectations about no underage drinking before they find themselves in a situation where they could be offered alcohol.
Do your research.
- Be armed with the facts e.g.,
- The legal drinking age in all Australian states and territories is 18 years old.
- 89% of parents aren’t giving their underage teenagers alcohol.1
- 69% of teenagers aged 14-17 are abstaining from alcohol.2
- Underage teenagers who are supplied with alcohol are more likely to experience alcohol-related harm, binge drinking and problematic drinking in their future years.3
- The frontal lobe and hippocampus – the areas of the brain that are associated with motivation, impulse control and addiction are going through the most dramatic growth during the teenage years. Drinking alcohol while this growth is happening can disrupt your child’s brain development and even damage their brain.
- Visit It’s okay to say nay for more stats, details on the secondary supply laws in your state and links to advice.
Pick your time.
The car can be a great time and place for constructive conversations – they’re a captive audience and there’s also the benefit that they don’t have to be facing you, which can make things less awkward. Other important teachable moment opportunities can be at events like the footy or a concert or while you’re cooking dinner together. There’s also plenty of moments in real life that will give you a hook for having a conversation – there might be something that’s on television that relates to alcohol. Remember that launching into lecture mode generally doesn’t work!
Challenge unfounded statements.
If your teenager tells you that ‘everyone else’s parents are giving them alcohol’ or ‘everyone else drinks’, show them the research. Most Australian parents (89%)1 aren’t supplying their underage teenagers with alcohol and the majority of underage teenagers in Australia are choosing not to drink alcohol 69%).2. Tell them the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines recommend that to reduce the risk of injury and other harms to health, children and people under 18 years of age should not drink alcohol.
Challenge their beliefs.
Be aware that some teenagers may want to drink alcohol believing it will help them fit in – they need to know that the majority of underage teens aren’t drinking so they can be confident saying no to alcohol.
Draw the line between adult and teenager activities.
Don’t be afraid to let your teenager know that some things aren’t appropriate for them. Make sure they hear you say that drinking alcohol is only something that adults do. Set these boundaries so your teenagers know what you expect from them.
Remind them about alcohol laws.
Remind your teenager that in Australia it is illegal for people under 18 to carry or consume alcohol in a public place.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Your GP or local health professional is available for you and your teenager. You can also find support services listed on the DrinkWise website that provide free confidential advice.
Be aware of your own role modelling when it comes to alcohol.
As their major role models, parents play a crucial role in shaping their kid’s attitude and behaviours towards alcohol. If you do choose to drink alcohol as an adult, make sure all your activities don’t revolve around drinking.
Be consistent in your own behaviour.
It can make a real difference when both parents share the same attitudes and act consistently. See our tips for developing a consistent approach to teenager drinking.
Be confident you are in the majority of parents doing the right thing.
Research clearly shows us that the overwhelming majority of other parents don’t supply their underage teenagers with alcohol – so help your kids make the smart choice and be confident in saying no.
DrinkWise - Kids and Alcohol Don't Mix brochureMore Information
The following resources may help you to plan to have a conversation about alcohol with your teenager:
- It’s okay to say nay
- Developing a consistent approach to teen drinking with your partner
- Setting family rules around alcohol
- Is your drinking influencing your kids?
- DrinkWise campaigns for parents
- Alcohol and your health – DrinkWise body health tool
- Dr Andrew Rochford – Kids and Alcohol video
- Dr Andrew Rochford – Delaying underage teenage drinking
References
- In consultation with AIHW, “89% of parents don’t supply their underage teenagers alcohol” was calculated based on the National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022-23 dataset, similar to Chan et. al.’s (2017) paper, the statistic reflects norms around parental supply of alcohol to minors and was calculated using a) the percentage of 14-17 year olds who drank alcohol in the past 12 months (see Table 4.6) and b) of those 14-17 year olds who drank alcohol in the past 12 months, the percentage who reported their usual supply of alcohol were from parents (see Table 4.10).
- In 2022-23, 69% of underage teenagers (14-17 years) abstained from drinking alcohol in the previous 12 months (National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2022-23).
(NB: this statistic is an updated calculation of underage abstinence and consumption rates as recommended by AIHW and in line with the 2020 Australian Alcohol Guidelines.) - Aiken, A., Chan, G., Yuen, W. et al. (2022). Trajectories of parental and peer supply of alcohol in adolescence and associations with later alcohol consumption and harms: A prospective cohort study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 237, 109533.
Let them try it or deny it? Alcohol and your teen
For some parents, the question of when to introduce their teen to alcohol is a major decision. Although the majority of underage teenagers in Australia are choosing not to drink alcohol (69%)1 , some may begin to show interest in alcohol and ask to try your drink – but should you let them?
According to medical health expert Dr Andrew Rochford (pictured left) “While it’s easy to see a child’s body growing during their teenage years, it’s not as obvious that their brain is growing too. Throughout their teens and into their twenties, their brain continues to grow and form. The frontal lobe and hippocampus – the areas of the brain that are associated with motivation, impulse control and addiction are going through the most dramatic growth while you’re a teenager. Drinking alcohol while this growth is happening can disrupt your child’s brain development and even damage their brain.”
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) advises that children and people under the age of 18 years of age should not drink alcohol to reduce the risk of harm from alcohol.
The best thing you can do as a parent is educate your teens about the dangers of alcohol and encourage them to hold off drinking until at least 18. Research shows that parental provision of alcohol to underage teens does not protect against increased alcohol consumption later in life. In fact, there has been evidence to show that following serves of alcohol teenagers are more likely to report binge drinking, experience alcohol-related harm such as accidents, blackouts, be involved in fights or problematic drinking in their future adolescent years.2
Laws regarding the supply of alcohol to minors in private residences, public places and licensed venues vary between states. In some jurisdictions it can be illegal to provide alcohol to young people on private property without parental permission. Parents may also be required to provide adequate supervision to young people consuming alcohol on their property.
DrinkWise - Kids and Alcohol Don't Mix brochure
References
- In 2022-23, 69% of underage teenagers (14-17 years) abstained from drinking alcohol in the previous 12 months (National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2022-23).
(NB: this statistic is an updated calculation of underage abstinence and consumption rates as recommended by AIHW and in line with the 2020 Australian Alcohol Guidelines.) - Aiken, A., Chan, G., Yuen, W. et al. (2022). Trajectories of parental and peer supply of alcohol in adolescence and associations with later alcohol consumption and harms: A prospective cohort study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 237, 109533.
Binge drinking and your teen
Binge drinking is not just about the number of drinks you have – it’s about drinking with the specific intention of ‘getting drunk’.
Binge drinking receives a great deal of media attention and can lead to shaping teens’ beliefs that this is the norm. There’s no denying that there are many young people who drink in risky ways, but there are many teenagers who are trying their best to keep themselves and their friends as safe as possible.
Australian research shows that in 2019 around 69%1 of minors reported abstaining from alcohol (up from 31.1% in 2001). The average age of initiation (i.e. the first time they consumed alcohol) has increased from 14.7 years in 2001 to 16.1 years in 2022-23. 2
That means there’s only a minority of kids who are drinking alcohol – but they’re still obvious and influential. So it’s important that parents recognise their influence as role models on their teens.
Some young people ‘preload’ to save money – quickly drinking large amounts of alcohol at home before heading out. Often they’re already intoxicated before they walk out the front door. By the time they get to where they’re going their judgement is clouded, causing them to continue drinking more than they intended to – which is dangerous, and means they don’t save money at all.
If your teenager is one of those in the minority who are drinking and / or getting drunk there could be other factors at play. Perhaps there are other influences in their lives (peers, older siblings, relatives) or problems that you’re unaware of. Don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions. You can find helpful tips to talk to your teen about alcohol right here on the DrinkWise website.
You can also seek professional help from a GP or get a referral for a health professional with expertise in the area.
DrinkWise - Kids and Alcohol Don't Mix brochure
More information
The following resources may help you say nay to underage teenage drinking and plan to have a conversation with your teenager:
- It’s okay to say nay
- Talking to your teen about alcohol
- Developing a consistent approach to teen drinking with your partner
- Is supplying alcohol to teens legal?
- Setting family rules around alcohol
- Is your drinking influencing your kids?
- DrinkWise campaigns for parents
- Alcohol and your health – DrinkWise body health tool
- Dr Andrew Rochford – Kids and Alcohol video
- Dr Andrew Rochford – Delaying underage teenage drinking
References
- In 2022-23, 69% of underage teenagers (14-17 years) abstained from drinking alcohol in the previous 12 months (National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2022-23).
(NB: this statistic is an updated calculation of underage abstinence and consumption rates as recommended by AIHW and in line with the 2020 Australian Alcohol Guidelines.) - Among those who were recent and ex-drinkers aged 14-24 years, the average age of initiation (i.e. the first time they consumed alcohol) was 16.1% in 2022-23, which has increased from 14.7 years in 2001. (National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2022-23).
Support Services
Is alcohol a problem? If it is harming you, or someone you know, please contact one of the services below for advice and support.
(24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Lifeline Text: 0477 131 114.
(6pm – 12am, 7 days a week).
Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS): 1800 250 015.
The National Alcohol and Other Drugs Hotline number above will redirect you to the relevant Alcohol and Drug Information Service in your state or territory. You can also contact your state service directly on the numbers below:
- NSW – 1800 250 015
- QLD – 1800 177 833
- SA – 1300 131 340
- NT – 1800 131 350
- TAS – 1800 811 994
- VIC – 1800 888 236
- WA – 1800 198 024
(24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
(24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Beyond Blue Chat Online
(3pm – 12am, 7 days a week).
(8am – 10pm, 7 days a week)
Parentline WebChat
(8am – 9pm, 7 days a week).
If your behaviours or choices are impacting on the safety of family or others please contact one of these services:
(24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
1800RESPECT Chat Online
(24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
1800RESPECT is a support service for people affected by domestic, family and sexual violence.
(24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Men’s Referral Service offers counselling, advice and support to men who have anger, relationship or parenting issues.
DVConnect Mensline: 1800 600 636.
DVConnect Womensline: 1800 811 811.
(24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
DrinkWise Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Program
The DrinkWise Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Program aims to create greater awareness among Australians that FASD is 100% preventable.
Each year, in addition to the year-round FASD awareness activities, DrinkWise works with experts from the medical industry and well-known parents and parents-to-be in the lead up to International FASD Awareness Day on 9 September. It’s a reminder to Australians about the importance of not drinking alcohol when planning a pregnancy or when pregnant – and that it’s safest not to drink alcohol when breastfeeding.
We recognise that rates of abstinence in pregnancy are going in the right direction but there’s still more work to be done and ongoing education is critical.
International FASD Day – Saturday 9 September 2023
Obstetrician Dr Vicki Carson and Australian Diamonds Netball star, nutritionist and mum of two little boys, Gretel Bueta are lending their voices to the 2023 DrinkWise FASD Awareness campaign. It’s a reminder to mums, mums-to-be and their support networks (partners, friends and family) that FASD is 100% preventable by abstaining from alcohol when pregnant or planning a pregnancy – and that it’s safest not to drink alcohol when breastfeeding.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder or FASD is 100% preventable. This is why Obstetrician, Dr Vicki Carson is supporting the campaign to remind Australians about the importance of not drinking alcohol if planning a pregnancy, during pregnancy or when breastfeeding. | Australian Diamonds Netball star, nutritionist and mum of two little boys, Gretel Bueta knows that a healthy baby is never a given which is why she decided not to drink when planning her pregnancy, when pregnant or while breastfeeding. |
Obstetrician Dr Vicki Carson talks about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder or FASD is a permanent neurological condition.
“FASD is an umbrella term for the range of physical, cognitive, behavioural and neurodevelopmental abnormalities that can affect babies who are exposed to alcohol during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Prenatal exposure to alcohol can reduce the size and weight of the fetal brain. It can also directly damage regions of a baby’s brain that are critical for learning, memory, behaviour, language and decision-making. The range and severity of FASD-related conditions differ from one person to the next and the symptoms are apparent to varying degrees throughout life.“FASD a lifelong condition but one that is 100% preventable. As an obstetrician, my advice is that there is no safe amount of alcohol to consume during pregnancy so it’s best to avoid alcohol completely when you’re planning a pregnancy, while you’re pregnant and while you’re breastfeeding. It really is the safest option for your baby.
“When I see a couple who already have one child affected by FASD, the most common reason is that they didn’t know to avoid or abstain from alcohol during pregnancy or they thought a little bit wouldn’t hurt. And that’s just a reminder of how important this campaign is.
“We do know the importance of education and the critical role doctors and obstetricians play, which is why I encourage all my colleagues to continue to remind their pregnant patients that it’s best to avoid alcohol altogether. I also encourage partners, friends and families to know about FASD too. This isn’t just an issue that women should know about. We all have a role to play in promoting healthy pregnancy choices,” said Dr Carson.
Dr Mark Wenitong is helping to raise awareness that FASD is not just an issue for women in general, but for everyone – men, partners, friends and family.
Past President and founder of the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association and past Aboriginal Public Health Medical Officer, Dr Mark Wenitong has worked for almost three decades to help improve the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians. He is lending his voice to highlight that ongoing education about FASD and the importance of not drinking alcohol when pregnant, when planning for a pregnancy and when breastfeeding is critical.
Data from the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health survey shows that 90% of mothers to Indigenous children aged 0–three years said they did not consume alcohol during their pregnancy*.
“It’s great that so many mothers to Indigenous children are reporting that they are staying away from alcohol when they are pregnant, but there is still a lot more to be done to increase awareness about FASD and the fact that any amount of alcohol will have an impact on the fetus, no matter what background you come from,” said Dr Wenitong.
“It’s really important to acknowledge that this is not just an issue for our mob or for women in general, but for everyone. For men, the best thing they can do to make sure their bub gets born healthy and lives a good long life is to provide an environment that’s caring and loving for the mum, which might mean they should also stop drinking as well for the duration of the pregnancy as a sign of support.”
13 YARN National Manager Aunty Marjorie Anderson is helping to raise awareness and understanding of FASD to reduce shame and stigma.
“Education and raising awareness and understanding of FASD and reducing stigma and shame is important. Our mob need to understand the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy, and where to go for support, so they can ask for help if they need it.”
“13YARN is a crisis support line for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. We are there to have a yarn in a culturally safe space about any needs, worries or concerns without judgement,” added Ms Anderson.
If you or someone you know is an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping, call 13YARN on 13 92 76 or visit 13yarn.org.au.
Australian Diamonds Netball star, nutritionist and mum of two little boys, Gretel Bueta made the important decision to not drink alcohol when she was planning her pregnancies, when pregnant and when breastfeeding.
Gretel and her husband Niko are parents to two boys, Bobby and Toby. Knowing that a healthy baby is never a given, Gretel and Niko wanted to make decisions that would give them the best chance to have healthy babies, which is why Gretel decided not to drink when planning her pregnancy, when pregnant or while breastfeeding.
“I think most people know to avoid alcohol when they are pregnant but maybe they’re not so aware of the specifics of FASD. With my background in nutrition and through consulting with doctors and doing the research, I knew you shouldn’t drink alcohol when trying to conceive, when pregnant and while breastfeeding.
“I wanted to give my babies the best possible start in life and me the best possible start to life as a mum. I knew not drinking alcohol through the entire pregnancy and breastfeeding journey is one thing I could do to give our baby every chance to thrive. Health is so important to me and that’s why I’m so happy to be working with DrinkWise to support this message to bring awareness about FASD and encourage other mums and mums-to-be to not drink alcohol when they are trying for a baby, when they’re pregnant or when they are breastfeeding.
“It’s important everyone knows about FASD, including friends and family who can support pregnant women to abstain from alcohol. I was lucky to be surrounded by such a supportive community – Niko, my family and my netball family. They say it takes a village to raise a child and I’m lucky I have a great village,” said Gretel.
Backed by Research
As an evidence-based organisation, DrinkWise relies on key independent research and clinical advice to underpin our campaigns and programs.
The Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol (‘the Guidelines’) from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) advise that to prevent harm from alcohol to their unborn child, women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy should not drink alcohol. For women who are breastfeeding, not drinking alcohol is safest for their baby.
DrinkWise commissioned new research in 2023 to understand attitudes and behaviours about abstaining from alcohol when planning a pregnancy, during a pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Some of the key new findings from the 2023 research include:
DrinkWise CEO Simon Strahan acknowledged that while rates of abstinence in pregnancy and attitudes towards avoiding alcohol in pregnancy were going in the right direction there is a lot more to be done to increase awareness.
“It’s great that more and more Australian women are understanding that they shouldn’t be consuming alcohol if they are planning a pregnancy or pregnant and that it’s safest not to drink alcohol when breastfeeding, but it is critical that we continue education campaigns that can help deliver this important health message. DrinkWise is committed to providing ongoing education and support to ensure that all Australians know that FASD is 100% preventable,” Mr Strahan said.
Ongoing education is critical.
Since the start of the FASD Awareness Program DrinkWise has partnered with medical experts and celebrity/influencers to develop tailored materials to better engage with audiences throughout Australia. Funding for these important educational materials has come from the Federal Government and DrinkWise contributors.
Extended versions of many of these videos have been produced for school programs, to educate students about FASD, peer influence and the importance of not drinking alcohol before they turn 18. Many of these resources, including the DrinkWise pregnancy and alcohol brochure and videos, are available for use in medical centres and for education programs (free of charge). If you’d like to use these resources in your programs please contact info@drinkwise.org.au.
Looking for more information
For more information about alcohol when planning a pregnancy, when pregnant or when breastfeeding please talk to your doctor, obstetrician or midwife, or visit:
- DrinkWise – Pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding (webpage)
- DrinkWise – Alcohol and pregnancy (brochure)
- Your Fertility
- NOFASD Australia
- FASD Hub
- Telethon Kids Institute
- Australian Breastfeeding Association
References
*Source: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey 2018–19
Pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Give your baby the best possible start and avoid the risks of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you should not drink alcohol. If you are breastfeeding, not drinking alcohol is safest for your baby.
Through the evidence-based Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) provide Australians with advice on the health effects of drinking alcohol. The guidelines advise that to prevent harm from alcohol to their unborn child, women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy should not drink alcohol. For women who are breastfeeding, not drinking alcohol is safest for their baby.
Medical Doctor and DrinkWise Ambassador Andrew Rochford encourages Australians to be aware of the National Health and Medical Research Councils (NHMRC) Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol and the risks of FASD. | Obstetrician, Dr Vicki Carson advises it’s safest to avoid alcohol all together when you’re planning a pregnancy, when you’re pregnant and when you’re breastfeeding. |
Planning
If you’re planning a pregnancy, it’s important for you both to be in your best physical condition to increase the likelihood of conceiving a healthy baby. This means it’s a good idea to understand how alcohol can affect your chance of conceiving. Drinking alcohol can affect both women’s and men’s fertility. Research has found that even drinking moderately can increase the time it takes to get pregnant and reduce the chances of having a healthy baby. You could be pregnant for a few weeks before knowing it.
Effects on women
Drinking even small amounts of alcohol can increase the time it takes to get pregnant. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle and ovulation, which can make it difficult to conceive.
Effects on men
Drinking alcohol excessively can decrease sex drive and performance. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can also reduce the amount of testosterone in the blood and increase the risk of male fertility problems.
Pregnant
To prevent harm from alcohol to their unborn child, women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy should not drink alcohol. Alcohol crosses from the mother’s blood stream into the baby’s blood stream and can affect the baby’s development. If you are pregnant and drink then so does your baby and that can cause harm.
The risks of alcohol on pregnancy
Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause FASD. This is a term used to describe a range of conditions that result from brain damage caused by alcohol exposure before birth. Other effects of alcohol exposure during pregnancy can include miscarriage, still birth, premature birth and low birth weight.
What if you drank before you knew you were pregnant?
If you consumed alcohol before you knew you were pregnant and have concerns, it’s important to talk to your doctor, obstetrician or midwife.
Partners, friends and family members of pregnant women
If it’s your partner, friend or family member who is who is pregnant, it’s really important to support them to stop drinking alcohol.
Breastfeeding
The amount of alcohol in your blood is the same as the amount of alcohol in your breast milk. For women who are breastfeeding, not drinking alcohol is safest for their baby.
Looking for more information
For more information about alcohol when planning a pregnancy, when pregnant or when breastfeeding please talk to your doctor, obstetrician or midwife, or visit:
For more information about this, talk to your doctor, obstetrician or midwife, or visit:
Get the Facts: labeling on alcohol products and packaging
DrinkWise encourages alcohol producers to apply the Get the facts DrinkWise.org.au message on products and packaging.
Industry-wide inclusion of the Get the facts DrinkWise.org.au on products and packaging ensures consumers are provided with a consistent source of evidence-based information about their alcohol consumption and relevant moderation messaging.
In addition to the body health tool and standard drinks calculator, the DrinkWise website provides consumers with information about topics such as parental influence and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) as well as timely information during events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen concern surrounding alcohol use during times of increased anxiety and stress. The website also provides consumers with a range of referral services should they require immediate or long-term help. Retention of Get the facts DrinkWise.org.au illustrates a proactive approach of industry towards consumer health.
The Get the Facts DrinkWise.org.au logos, which are free for use by all alcohol producers, can be downloaded by clicking on the image below and can be amended to suit your product label colour scheme.
Mandatory pregnancy warning labels – alcohol producers, please note:
On 17 July 2020, the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation accepted the proposed standard for pregnancy warning labels.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand have provided this advice regarding the labels:
New requirements for mandatory pregnancy warning labels on packaged alcoholic beverages were gazetted in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) on 31 July 2020. Businesses have three years from 31 July 2020 to implement these requirements. To assist businesses with the pregnancy warning label requirements, a document outlining the design elements of the label and downloadable labels are available.
The labels can be accessed from the FSANZ website.
Mamamia’s five types of teenagers. Which one is yours?
There are a series of subtle changes that begin to emerge in your pre-teen, marking the official end of childhood and the advance to the teenage years.
These behaviours generally include an increase in the eye-roll count, less verbal exchange and a whole new vocabulary parents must contend with: bae, whatevs, and YOLO-as-verb.
And when it comes to having the important conversations with your teen about drinking, their strange behaviour can make it tough to get through to them – but don’t let that stop you.
But the good news is, it’s not impossible. Here’s an introduction to the most common teen categories – and how to communicate with them.
The Mute.
“How was school honey?”
“Meh.”
“Did you enjoy soccer training today?”
“Hmph”.
Ok. If this exchange is becoming the dominant communication style with your teen, then welcome to The Mute. The teen Mute is incapable of forming full sentences, which may drain the brain or energies of the teen. (These energy reserves are important for digital communication with friends, duh).
Communication strategy: The best strategy for the teen Mute is to subtly wait for any windows of opportunity, which means the teen has said something to you or in your general direction, and then engage quickly.
The trick here is not to appear too eager, or you will cause an eye-roll. Be on the lookout for spaces and places with fewer distractions, such as the car, kitchen or the laundry, where you’ll be doing things but they won’t.
You may feel your mute child isn’t responsive to your prattle, but be sure their minds are working overtime. Mind the rookie error of loading the drinking conversation into one big pep talk though. That’s not going to work for this wary species. Coming on too heavy will activate the aforementioned eye-roll. Break it down into key themes such as being smart about your choices, looking after your mates and how to recognise the effects of alcohol.
The Rebel.
The Rebel is identifiable by the quirk of the Opposite Action-Reaction default setting. That is, whatever you would like your teen to do, they would like to do the opposite.
“Do you mind putting that away please?” is just an invitation for a response such as “Yes. I do mind.” Ok, excellent. The teen Rebel will also look for any boundaries in their life, in order to push them. This may include but is not limited to: school rules, uniforms, chores, punctuality and all simple requests. The teen Rebel thrives on defiance and witty comebacks, LOL.
Communication strategy: To talk to the teen Rebel about serious teen issues then, one must employ a similar tactic. Sarcasm. Start your sentence with “yeah, as if you would ever do that” and then insert risky behaviour. This will stump the Rebel teen, who will accidentally engage in conversation with you by immediately disagreeing. #winning.
The great news is that if you’ve got a rebel, chances are you’ve got a smart kid there. Congratulations, that’s something you can work with. Show you’re smart too and be well researched in what’s trending in their social networks. Bring up alcohol-related examples and bathe in their rebellious defiant wisdom. The key then is to suspend your own judgment and be prepared to hear things you may not want to. Just remember it’s a work-in-progress and opening the dialogue is like finding a pulse when doing first aid. We can work with that.
The Drama Queen.
Brace yourselves for this one. And then simultaneously cast your mind back to the toddler years. Because the teen Drama Queen has many similarities to a toddler who is facing a crisis of epic proportions – only teen Drama Queens are generally bigger, hairier and louder, and involve you ruining everything.
It usually starts with a guttural scream: “Muuum?/Daaad?” and then you can expect a few “I hate you”s, punctuated by door slams. “You have ruined my life/You don’t understand me/I hate this family” may also make an appearance. Good times.
Communication strategy: The keys to communicating with the Drama Queen are timing and tone. Do not attempt to engage an enraged Drama Queen. Wait patiently until the tide has turned, and then act cool and casual, keeping your tone at all time free from drama. Proceed with caution. Inject what aspect of alcohol safety you want to discuss into the conversation and like the Rebel, sit back and be prepared to listen.
The Golden Child.
Ah, the Golden Child. This is the teen who has worked out quickly that keeping mum and dad happy is the path of least resistance, and usually the same path that leads to getting what they want.
A generally pleasant teen, the only thing to watch here is the degree to which The Golden Child has everyone wrapped around his or her little finger…
Communication strategy: Talking to the Golden Child about drinking is less tricky, because they will switch into Student of the Week mode and lap it all up. But you need to ensure they are really listening and thinking, and not just saying what you want them to say.
So ask them lots of open-ended questions. What would you do if someone offered you a drink? Have you ever felt pressure to drink when you haven’t wanted to? Keep things light and general. And don’t forget to praise them afterwards.
The Shape-shifter.
The final category is the ‘you never know what you will encounter’ variety. Pleasant and agreeable one moment, this teen can suddenly become The Mute. In fact, they can display elements of all other categories in any one day. A bit like The Divergent of teens, they master all and can tanty it up with the best of the Drama Queens, or push you to the edge with their rebellious streak, only to happily end the day as The Golden Child once more. It’s exhausting, but it does keep you on your toes.
Communication strategy: Talking to the Shape-shifter teen requires mastery of all of the above skill-sets. Timing, tone, opportunity, sarcasm, light-heartedness – you many need to call on any or all of these skills to have a meaningful conversation with your teen about topics that are important as they grow up.
But no matter what type of teen you have, it’s important to be aware that despite what they say (or don’t say), your teen is watching you, observing you and still learning from your example, every day – remember, you are their positive role model. Let them know that you’re always there to help them even if they are unsure of what to do.
And if all else fails? Start surfing the web, there are plenty of resources out there to help you talk to your teen about alcohol and staying safe. And if you don’t know where to begin, the DrinkWise website is a great place to start.
Parents – stay strong. You’ve got this.
So what type of a teen were you? Or what category does your teen fall under?
This content was originally published on Mamamia.com.au and is republished here with full permission.
DrinkWise - Kids and Alcohol Don't Mix brochure
More Information
The following resources may help you to plan to have a conversation about alcohol with your teenager:
- It’s okay to say nay
- Talking to your teen about alcohol
- Developing a consistent approach to teen drinking with your partner
- Setting family rules around alcohol
- Is your drinking influencing your kids?
- DrinkWise campaigns for parents
- Alcohol and your health – DrinkWise body health tool
- Dr Andrew Rochford – Kids and Alcohol video
- Dr Andrew Rochford – Delaying underage teenage drinking