Teenage Secrets: What’s Normal & When to Be Concerned
Talking to teenagers about drinking alcohol can feel overwhelming. You might worry about lecturing them, not getting through, or simply not knowing where to begin. Yet it’s a worthwhile effort, because open and honest conversations are some of the best ways to prevent underage drinking.
Our research on North Carolina students and parents shows 93% of middle and high school students feel that talking to their parents could help with preventing underage drinking. Knowing how to talk to your teenager about drinking alcohol can help you build a solid foundation of trust for preventing your child from drinking underage. Ready to get started? Here’s how to talk to your teen about alcohol.
Get Prepared for the Talk
Before you start your conversation about underage drinking, it’s important to be prepared. Here are some great resources for you to consult:
As you get prepared, consider taking these steps:
- Know the facts: When you tackle any project, you need the right tools. Think of facts about underage drinking as being the tools in your toolbox you can access whenever a conversation presents itself. Here are some quick facts you’ll want to know:
- Underage drinking can be linked to mental health issues like heightened anxiety, depression, and increased risk of alcohol misuse disorder later in life.
- There are more than 4,000 alcohol-related deaths among young people every year.
- Underage drinking can lead to negative performance in athletics and academics.
- Heavy drinking starting at a young age can damage the brain and create ‘holes’ of reduced brain activity.
- Understand their perspective: There are so many pressures teenagers face today, and peer pressure to drink is just one. Your teen may be curious about alcohol or see others consuming alcohol on social media. Consider their age and maturity level as you approach the conversation and remember what it was like to be a teen.
Start the Conversation
Once you’re prepared, the next step is to actually start the conversation! At Talk it Out NC, we have helpful conversation starters and downloadable resources. Here are a few tips for starting the conversation about underage drinking with your child:
- Pick the right moment: It’s important to pick the right place, tone, and moment for a conversation about underage drinking, and not every moment will be ideal. Everyday situations and conversations can be great opportunities to start talking about alcohol. See a news story about drunk driving? Ask your teen how they think it could have been prevented. Does underage drinking take place in a movie you’re watching? Start a conversation about the character’s decisions and the potential consequences.
- More conversation is better: Knowing how to talk to teenagers about alcohol with open dialogue, free from judgment, lets your teen know they can always come to you with questions or concerns — even if they’ve already experimented with alcohol and need help saying “No” to their friends or getting out of uncomfortable situations where underage drinking may be taking place.
- Make it a new normal: Integrating conversations about underage drinking into everyday conversations makes this big topic more comfortable for everyone involved.
Keep the Conversation Going
Once you have the initial conversation about underage drinking, the next step is to keep the conversation going. Preventing underage drinking isn’t just a one-and-done deal. It takes consistency, practice, and lots of little “talks” over time. Keep these suggestions in mind:
- Continue age-appropriate conversations: As children get older, the conversations around underage drinking can and should change. The pressures of alcohol will be very different for a middle school student compared to a 20-year-old. Tailor age-appropriate conversations to your child’s phase in life.
- Stay close: Keep the open dialogue and create a safe, loving environment for your child. This means staying involved in your child’s life and engaging in their day-to-day activities.
- Stay alert: Teens experience the ups and downs of life like anyone. Keep an eye on their emotions and how they are feeling. You know your child best. If something feels off, check in with them to find out what’s going on and how you can help.
Today is the Perfect Time to Start the Conversation
Don’t sweat talking to your teen about underage drinking. With the resources and guidance at Talk it Out NC, conversations about alcohol can become second nature. Remember, open and honest conversations are among the best ways to prevent underage drinking. Ready to talk? Start the Conversation today.
