You want to protect your teenager from everything, but you might also remember when you were a teenager. There were great things like feeling invincible and free for the first time, and annoying things like when adults still treated you like a child. As a parent, it can be tricky to bridge the gap between seeming like a concerned authority figure to a dominating control freak.
If your teenage years were similar to the average teen in the United States, you probably had some experience with drinking before you were technically allowed to do so under the law. Teens today face a lot of peer pressure for both drugs and alcohol. Helping them stay informed and knowledgeable can keep them safe.
In this blog, we go through the basics of discouraging teenage drinking without becoming over-bearing or too controlling in your teen’s eyes.
Establish Clear House Rules and Consequences
The first step for discouraging excessive and underage drinking is to be clear. Set guidelines that work for your family and follow the law. As much as possible, involve your teenager in the decision-making process so they know and are responsible for their actions. Your teenager is more likely to comply with rules they helped you make.
It can be simple like a curfew, or agreeing on where they can go to parties or who they can go with. Make sure they can weigh in and feel comfortable with the parameters.
Explain the Repercussions of Illegal Drinking Activities
While teenagers haven’t fully matured, they have all the critical thinking skills necessary to understand the risks of dangerous behaviors. Discuss these risks with your teen. Talk about the very real possibility of the person who supplies your child with alcohol being held legally responsible. Also warn against letting someone who is intoxicated drive or operate any vehicle.
Even if you can’t convince your teen never to drink, these conversations could give him or her the motivation and knowledge needed to get out of a dangerous situation before anyone gets hurt. Make sure they are staying safe at parties and have open communication with you to pick them up should anything happen they aren’t comfortable with.
Give Your Teen a Whiff Without Encouraging Use
I don’t endorse giving your teen alcohol to drink. However, for some, knowing what alcohol smells like is discouragement enough. As an adult, you’re probably used to the strong smell of liquor, even if you don’t like it. Your teenager, on the other hand, may picture a delicious drink that makes them feel invincible. If you think your teen will respond to the stimuli, let them smell beer or hard liquor. The odor alone may be deterrent enough for the time being.
Remember, no basic advice can tell you exactly how to best interact with your child. Consider what you know of his or her behavior, and go from there. As you establish yourself as an ally rather than an enemy, you’ll have a better chance of actually influencing your child’s behavior. Talk to them openly and frankly about your own experience with alcohol. Often the air of mystery that can surround drinking is what drives some to rebel. Make it clear they can ask questions and talk to you about anything concerning alcohol or drinking.
If you need more help to impress the importance of responsible drinking on your teen, look for local support chapters, legal representatives like Tad Nelson, or behavioral counselors. These organizations and individuals can offer concrete advice and strategies and help you and your teen become more familiar with the law and the legal consequences they might face drinking underage.
It’s estimated eight out of 10 high school students have tried alcohol at least once. People who start drinking alcohol at a young age are more likely to become alcoholics later in life. That’s why it’s important to talk to your stepchildren about the risks of drinking. Click here to get some tips that will make it easier for you to talk to your teen about the dangers of drinking.
