Advice to give your children about alcohol

What can I do to stop my child giving in to peer pressure?

When it comes to drinking, aside from you, your child’s friends are probably the biggest influence on their behaviour. It’s seen by most teenagers as normal to drink. They want to fit in, and alcohol is often part of that.

It’s important to talk to you child about how they can say ‘no’. Saying they’ll have a drink in a little while will usually deter those pushing alcohol. Being involved in sporting events is seen as a credible excuse, so saying they have a match they want to be fit for the next day might also work.  

Tips for staying safe 

Even the most sensible child can be made vulnerable as a result of alcohol. If you are aware your child is drinking here are some tips you can give to help them stay safe:

• Eating before and during drinking - Eating snacks between drinks, or having a meal before they go out, will help slow the alcohol getting into their system, meaning they don’t get drunk so quickly.
• Drinking plenty of water - Alternating alcoholic drinks with water or soft drinks will slow your teenager’s drinking and help to keep them hydrated.
• Keep an eye on what they're drinking - Tell them not to mix their drinks, as this makes it harder to keep track of what they’ve had.You could also suggest they understand the guidelines for safe drinking and how this relates to their choice of drinks.
• Plan how they are going to get home - If they’re getting a taxi, tell them to get a licensed one. Make sure they let you know where they are going and who with.Tell them to never get into a car with someone who’s been drinking. It may seem obvious when sober but people are more likely to take risks when drunk.
• Look out for their friends - Sticking together and not letting friends wander off on their own will help them stay safe.Remind them to go out with a fully charged mobile phone with plenty of credit,so if they do get into trouble they can call. It might also be an idea to let them know that, if they’re ever in trouble, lose their friends or can’t get home safely, they can call you at any time to pick them up – and you won’t be really angry.

Know the facts

If your child’s sexually active, or you think they might be, make sure that they understand about safe sex. You should warn girls especially about the risk of being sexually assaulted or someone spiking their drink.

Remind them that having a good night out doesn't have to mean getting drunk. In fact it's usually much more fun if you don't.

Page last updated by

Root User, 19 Apr 2010.

Page checked on

04 Nov 2009.