The Importance of Talking to Your Kids About Not Drinking Alcohol

Many Days raising children are chock full of the here and now issues, it can be hard to think long-term. Parents and caretakers grow as much as the children do while cruising through adolescence. Constantly preparing your child for adulthood is an endurance race.

Keeping your child healthy by talking to them about not drinking alcohol is one part of preparing them to live a long, healthy life. It’s just as important as teaching them healthy ways to relieve stress as a tween or brush their teeth when they were toddlers.

Did you know drinking alcohol underage poses a variety of risks?

• It increases the likelihood of problematic drinking later in life.
• It is linked to certain cancers and increases the risk for others.

Think about how you model alcohol use in your own life. Your children watch how you act, how and when you consume, and when you say “enough.” Although it may not always be obvious, do not forget that they are constantly watching.

Sources: https://bit.ly/3tD3NrH, https://bit.ly/3HlS1HT

Show your child there’s no wrong time to talk. Checking in and communicating is a way to show you care about their health and love them.

• Build your child’s skills for refusing a drink if offered. It takes time. Take time to talk often instead of saving it all up.
• Having a plan and knowing what to say in any situation can ease anxiety. Spend time going over a plan before it even has a chance to happen.
• Not drinking alcohol underage is part of a bigger picture of healthy child development.

Parents show love to children in many ways. Building up their confidence and skills to say no to underage drinking is important in teaching them to advocate for themselves.

Funded in whole or in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration.

Did you know that most Illinois high schoolers don’t think underage drinking is cool? Most teens also don’t drink alcohol.

Deciding not to drink is something to be proud of! It’s a choice you won’t regret, and it helps keep your developing brain and body healthy.

If you’ve already tried drinking, it’s not too late to make different choices that set you up for success. If you or someone you know is struggling with using alcohol, find a trusted adult to talk with – like a parent, guidance counselor, or coach.

UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS:

• November 2009: Obama won the election and became the first African American U.S. president.
• February 2015: Apple introduced racially diverse emojis.
• May 2020: SpaceX became the first private space company to deliver NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).

Make the Healthy Choice and Live Your Moments Alcohol-Free.

Make sure your child knows you have their back and support their choice NOT to drink alcohol underage.

Source: 2018 Youth Survey

HAVING A “TALK” with a child can seem like a big task. That’s why it’s important to talk with them about not using alcohol underage before it becomes a big event.

Try not to make the topic bigger in your mind than it is, whether you plan on a one-on-one conversation or a family discussion. No way is wrong.

Your child should know you do not approve of them drinking alcohol underage and if they did drink, they would likely be caught. Setting rules for your family is just one way you take care of them every day.

Rules to think about:

• No drinking alcohol until age 21.
• Do not stay at teen parties where alcohol is present.
• When they arrive home from being out with friends, let them know you want a hug and hello before they head to their rooms.
• Older siblings do not encourage younger ones to drink and do not provide alcohol to anyone – including family.
• Do not ride in a car with a driver (of any age!) who has been drinking.

Make the Healthy Choice and Live Your Moments Alcohol-Free.

Make sure your child knows you have their back and support their choice NOT to drink alcohol underage.

Source: https://bit.ly/3MSQ5aZ

While Everyone May Have Their Own Reason For Thinking Underage drinking is wrong. Most teens agree that underage Drinking Isn’t the right move.

Here are just a few of the risks that make it wrong:

• Drinking under the age of 21 is illegal and could mean legal consequences.
• Drinking underage puts your developing brain at extreme risk for short and long-term damage.
• Drinking underage increases the risk of suicide and homicide.

Make the Healthy Choice and Live Your Moments Alcohol-Free.

Make sure your child knows you have their back and support their choice NOT to drink alcohol underage.