Avoid making drunkenness seem humorous or desirable. Make sure you know where and how your children are spending their free time. Talk to your kids and be involved in their lives. Alcohol use is a very serious problem for our children. More than 11 million American kids drink , which means they are putting their lives at risk for a whole host of problems.
Research shows that better parental monitoring can reduce heavy drinking by adolescents.
For instance, RUDC coalition members encourage alcohol retailers to establish model business policies and practices to ensure that they do not provide alcohol to youth. With business leaders, parents and youth, clergy, teachers and other concerned community leaders, RUDC coalitions strive to reduce the policies, practices and behaviors that combine to create alcohol-related problems for everyone. Research shows that if parents communicate with their children, set clear expectations for behavior and pay attention to how their children are using their free time, their children are not as likely to get into trouble with alcohol. Young people who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol addiction problems than those who do not drink until age 21. Parents can have a lot of influence with the minority of retailers who need to take steps to keep alcohol out of the hands of our children.