Underage Drinking: How to Stop Teen Drinking

Parents can help reduce the harmful effects of alcohol on their teenager drug addiction treatment by setting clear expectations about what is acceptable and unacceptable drinking behaviour during their child’s early teens and beyond. This conversation is one you’ll have to repeat throughout their teenage years. Set good standards that your teen can learn from by role modelling responsible drinking behaviours yourself.

The Legal and Health Consequences of Underage Drinking

Driving or swimming while under the influence is dangerous – a young person may harm themselves and others. Taking alcohol with other drugs that also suppress the central nervous system (such as heroin and benzodiazepines) can be particularly risky. It can cause a person’s breathing and heart rate to decrease to dangerous levels and increase the risk of overdose.

What to do if your teenager is drinking alcohol

(Binge drinking is also defined as drinking over the recommended level of standard drinks. This usually means no more than 4 standard drinks in one session). You can encourage safer drinking behaviour and create a space where the young person feels safe to come to you about any questions. This can mean they are more likely to reach out for help when they need. Research on early onset alcohol use shows that parents who drink or talk a lot about drinking have kids who are more likely to try alcohol earlier. Witnessing your child struggle with a drinking problem (also known as “alcohol use disorder”) can be as heartbreaking as it is frustrating. Your teen may be falling behind at school, disrupting family life, and even stealing money to finance their habit or getting into legal difficulties.

Alcohol and teenagers

• Any of these can pose a risk to the teenager or others, ranging from milder to severe.
• If you’ve discovered your child or teen is drinking alcohol, it’s normal to feel upset, angry, and worried.
• While many teens will try alcohol at some point out of curiosity or as an act of rebellion or defiance, there is rarely just a single reason why some decide to drink.

“Warnings are fundamental in tackling adolescent drinking behaviour, however, those warnings are more credible when paired with the acknowledgment of some of the positive aspects. This mixed message approach is perceived as open, more authentic and trustworthy, and therefore more effective,” Dr Hess says. Alcohol plays a significant role in Australian culture, and teens are generally aware of that. Most teens will want to join in on the cultural activities that their peers or role models are doing, so they may drink to celebrate an achievement or to fit in at a party. Negative consequences can cause harm to others as well, such as injuring or even killing another person while driving drunk.

A better tactic is to find an area of common ground, such as sports or movies. Once you’re able to peacefully discuss a common interest, it may be easier to get your teen talking about the more sensitive issue of alcohol use. While many teens will try alcohol at some point out of curiosity or as an act of rebellion or defiance, there is rarely just a single reason why some decide to drink. The more you understand about potential reasons for underage alcohol use, the easier it can be to talk to your child about the dangers and identify any red flags in their behavior. For this reason, it is important for parents or caregivers, schools, and communities to know the risks and address education about alcohol among young people. The younger a person starts drinking, the more likely they are to notice effects on their cognition and memory, which may last into adulthood.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) in Australia reports that people who begin drinking before the age of 15 are at a higher risk of developing Alcohol Use Disorder later in life. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that one-third of teens have drunk excessively. Parents should actively encourage their teenager to delay drinking any alcohol for as long as possible. Alcohol can affect how teenagers function, how they recognise risks, and their ability to make good decisions. Underage drinking makes teens more likely to put themselves in risky situations, which may result in harm to themselves or others. Encourage your child to take part in extracurricular activities and to surround themselves with good mentors and responsible peers.

Tips to change your relationship with alcohol

Many young people start experimenting with alcohol during their teenage years, especially when they’re socialising. It can be difficult to strike a balance between keeping your teen healthy and safe and giving them the freedom to experience their teenage years to the fullest. By role modelling moderate drinking behaviours and setting clear expectations, you can teach your teen how to manage the effects of alcohol.

Short Takes with NIAAA: How Does Alcohol Affect the Adolescent Brain?

These strategies can effectively lower alcohol-related harms for everyone, including people younger than 21. As compared to nondrinkers, teens who drink are more likely to get into a car with a driver who has been drinking, smoke pot, use inhalants, or carry a weapon. Binge drinking substantially increases the likelihood of these activities.