Helping Other Kids Avoid Alcohol

Parents often feel alone or isolated in their efforts to deal with tough issues such as underage alcohol use. Connect with other families to have an even bigger influence on your children and the children in your community.

• Get to know your child’s friends. If you get the feeling that one of your child’s friends could be having a bad influence, invite the friend to spend time with you and your child together so you can have a positive influence on the relationship.
• Let your kids know that you’re always available to help them (and their friends, if need be) out of a high-pressure situation. Offer a “no questions asked until later” ride home from any party, or a pick-up at the end of the block—and emphasize that keeping your child out of a drunk driver’s car is your first concern.
• Keep track of where your teenager goes and who he is with. If he goes to a party, check in advance whether an adult will be actively present and whether alcohol will be available.

• Never purchase or provide alcohol for young people, no matter what the occasion.

Raising healthy, responsible kids takes many involved adults. By getting other adults involved in your child’s life—and being a part of other children’s lives—you can make sure that all kids have the support they need to resist underage alcohol use and other negative behaviors.