Some parents do so by introducing their kids to controlled drinking at home, a glass of wine with dinner for a 16 th birthday party perhaps. If alcohol is not strictly taboo in your home, there may be less allure for a teenager to go crazy with it outside the home. However, if there is a history of alcoholism in your family, drinking may be taboo for good reason. For a small percentage of people, alcohol is as addictive and dangerous as any hard-core drug. It s a judgement call.
Drugs are another matter.
No matter what your personal views are on drugs, it s best to follow the letter of the law on this one, and strictly prohibit drugs. Of course, there will still be those teens who try them, but at least they will get the message they re dealing with something serious. Even marijuana, the so-called mildest of the drugs, has become a potent crop. And cocaine, heroin and LSD are all cheaper, stronger and more readily available than ever before. Some people experiment with them and get away with it.