Drinkwise
  • DRINKING & YOU
    • Useful topics
      • Facts about drinking
      • Alcohol & your health
      • Support services
      Featured articles
      Is there such a thing as safe drink driving?
      Featured articles
      Is your drinking out of control?
      Featured articles
      Standard drinks calculator
  • PARENTS
    • Useful topics
      • Facts for parents
      • Tips for parents
      • Pregnancy
      • Support for parents
      Featured articles
      Binge drinking and your teen
      Featured articles
      Surviving Schoolies: how to keep your teen safe
      Featured articles
      Let them try it or deny it? Alcohol and your teen
  • UNDER 18s
    • Useful topics
      • Know the facts
      • Health effects of alcohol
      • Youth support services
      • Underage drinking
      • Tips for safe drinking
      Featured articles
      Alcohol & your health
      Featured articles
      Walking on the edge – the risks of binge drinking.
      Featured articles
      Behind the wheel: the dangers of drink driving
  • OUR WORK
    • Useful topics
      • Campaigns
      • About
      • Labels
      • Media
      • Research
      • Resources
      Featured articles
      Australian Drinking Habits: 2007 vs 2017
      Featured articles
      Parental influence campaign
      Featured articles
      DrinkWise Board of Directors
    Or try a quick search
  • Standard drinks calculator
  • Support services
  • Alcohol and your health
  • Drink driving
  • Binge drinking
  • Effects of alcohol on pregnancy
  • Talking to kids about alcohol
  • Parents
  • Teens
    • Sorry, we couldn't find anything…
    Information Developing a consistent approach to teen drinking

    As much as you may want to be your teen’s ‘best friend’, it’s more important to be a responsible parent.

    Parents have the greatest impact on shaping kids’ attitudes to alcohol.  When both parents share the same attitudes and act consistently, it can make a real difference to how your kid(s) view alcohol. If a young person gets mixed messages, then it’s harder for them to develop a positive attitude towards alcohol.

    Parents need to agree on appropriate rules and boundaries for their teen when it comes to alcohol, plus consequences if they’re broken.

    If parents have differing opinions about providing alcohol to their teens, this should be discussed between themselves – without placing the child in the conflict.

    Broken relationships can make this situation harder. Some parents may be reluctant to enforce rules, fearing it will make them unpopular with their child.  Remember, however, that once the rules and boundaries are made it is important that either party ‘gives in’, or any respect for these rules will be lost.

    There are ways of maintaining a positive relationship other than giving your teen alcohol. Whatever the reason for the difference in opinion parents might have, it’s important to develop an agreed approach.

    Tips for developing a consistent approach:

    • Before you discuss the issue with your child’s parent, do your research. Ensure you understand the potential for damage to developing bodies, and that early introduction may be linked to issues with alcohol later in life.
    • Discuss the issue without your teen first – when they are in bed, or away from the house.
    • Use the DrinkWise DELAY five point plan to assist in developing your approach.
    • If you can’t reach an agreement, consider seeking professional help – through your GP, the local family relationship centre, or a qualified counsellor.

    Gaining support for your parenting strategies around alcohol

    Kids search for the type of adult they want to emulate – so they will observe the way your family and friends behave around alcohol, and that will play a pivotal role in developing their attitudes and drinking behaviours.

    As teens mature, they’re more heavily influenced by their peers and what they see on social media, TV, and in movies. Having positive role models to counteract social pressures is crucial in order for your teen to develop a healthy attitude towards alcohol and responsible drinking.

    In order to gain the support of other influential adults in your teen’s life, talk to your family and friends about how you feel about alcohol.  Ensure they are aware of the messages they may be unconsciously sending to kids about drinking alcohol.

    Don’t be afraid to voice your disapproval if a family member or friend continue to behave poorly.  Ensure your teen hears you disapprove of the behaviour – either by challenging the person directly, or talking to your teen afterwards.

    If someone has a problem with alcohol, discuss it with your teen. Whether the person is a family member, a friend, or someone external, their behaviour may raise questions and result in positive discussions. Instead of avoiding the issue, ask your teen what they think about the behaviour and what they would do.

    Through the evidence-based Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) provide Australians with evidence-based advice on the health effects of drinking alcohol.  The 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.  Read about the guidelines here.

    DrinkWise - Kids and Alcohol Don't Mix brochure
    Tags
    • help
    • parental influence
    • parents
    • teens
    Was this article helpful?
    You already voted!
    Share this
    Share on Facebook Tweet Email
    You may also like

    Indigenous education resources and partnerships

    Indigenous education around alcohol is an important focus for DrinkWise.  DrinkWise provides financial and in-kind support for a number of different programs and initiatives, utilising a tailored broadcast and targeted approach.

    • about
    • about us
    • campaign
    • campaigns
    • FASD
    • fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
    • health
    • legal drinking age
    • manage consumption
    • resources
    • role models
    • teenagers
    • teens

    DrinkWise videos for education programs

    DrinkWise has created a series of videos for school and community programs, to educate and build individual capacity to make informed decisions about alcohol.

    • campaign
    • campaigns
    • drinking culture
    • Effects of alcohol on pregnancy
    • FASD
    • fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
    • health
    • Indigenous
    • kids
    • legal drinking age
    • parental influence
    • parents
    • pregnancy
    • pregnant
    • resources
    • role models
    • teens

    You Got This – supporting 2020 school leavers

    The second phase of You Got This features a series of six video interviews offering practical tips and experiences that can help school-leavers remain confident and resilient as they embark on life after school.

    • about
    • about us
    • campaign
    • health
    • help
    • manage consumption
    • research
    • teens

    Support Services

    Do you or someone you know have a problem with alcohol? Here you’ll find where to get help for you, your family or a friend.

    • help
    • support
    • support services
    • b
    • a
    • r
    • About Us
      • About
      • Contact
      • Media Releases
      • Labels
    • Tools
      • Standard drinks calculator
      • Alcohol & your health
      • Resources
    • Quicklinks
      • Binge drinking
      • Drink driving
      • How to drink properly
      • Get the facts
    • Drinkwise Australia

      Level 2, 232 York Street
      South Melbourne VIC 3205

      Phone: +61 3 9682 8641
      Email: info@drinkwise.org.au


    © 2021 Drinkwise Australia
      • Sitemap
      • Terms of Use & Privacy Policy
    • b
    • a
    • r
    © 2021 Drinkwise Australia