Ongoing conversations with your teenager are crucial to their decision making about alcohol. These conversations should not be a one and done speech, but rather a regular discussion in your home. Older adolescents are the most susceptible to drinking, so it is never too early to begin this conversation. You can then change the topics and transparency as your child gets older.
Here are three mistakes parents make and how to avoid making them:
The rules change as the child gets older.
The rules about drinking for a middle school-er might be "stay away from alcohol" and "alcohol is bad." However, as the child gets older, these lines may begin to blur. The rules can especially modify if the child grows up in a culture where drinking is a part of family traditions, everyday meals, or cultural celebrations.