With the drinking age now well and truly set at 18, our teenagers are going to be exposed to the options of alcohol and need to know what their personal stance on drinking is.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University in the USA issued a report entitled 'Teen Tipplers: America's Underage Drinking Epidemic' in which it reveals that underage drinkers in America account for 25% of all alcohol consumed. This is an alarming statistic.

Be specific when you lay down the laws for teen behavior. Tell them that it is against the law for them to drink before they reach 18, and that you expect them to abide by that law. Decide ahead of time what their punishment will be, so that if drinking occurs you will be prepared, in the heat of the moment, with a plan. Inform them of the punishment and emphasize that it WILL be carried out. At the same time, ask your teen that he or she is to call you if they finds themselves at a party or in a situation where alcohol is being consumed and that if he or she calls you, you will come and, with no questions asked, escort him home. If your teen has been drinking, the set punishment will be enforced, but you must make it clear that you will not grill your child that night. Get your teen safely home and in bed and tackle the issues in the morning with calmness and rationality. Be sure to praise them for calling you, and double the praise if you are certain he/she did not drink.

Talk to your teen on a regular basis about the subject of alcohol. Talk about it easily and allow them to talk as well. Keep the lines of communication open. If you shut down on your teen they will not feel they can come to you if and when they need to. Teach respect for the law from the time your child is little and they will be more willing to comply with the law. Discuss the problems caused by alcohol and point out instances where alcohol has hurt families and relationships. Stay as neutral as you can during these talks so that your child never feels you are giving them a lecture. You can pontificate until you turn blue, but they will turn a deaf ear if you do. The commitment has to come from your teen. Telling your teen not to drink and what the consequences are can be a deterrent, but if they develop a personal commitment to abstaining, they will be far more successful.

As with any rules you make, be sure you practice what you preach. If you do drink, make sure you practice all safety rules and drink responsibly. If your teen sees you abuse the rules of alcohol consumption or sees that it interferes with your lives, you will be hard pressed to have them do as you say rather than as you do.

By Rachel Goodchild

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