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PARENTS OF TEENS:

Setting A Good Example

• Steps To Take At Home • Encouraging Smart Choices • Having The Conversation • Preparing For College • Setting A Good Example

Robert Brewer, MD, MSPH, leader of the alcohol program at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, has important advice for parents.

What do parents tend to forget?

Sometimes as parents we underestimate the importance of the example we set for our kids and think it doesn’t matter much, but there is good evidence that it does matter. For example, in states and communities where adults drink a lot, the youth also drink more.^6,7

Speaking as both a parent and researcher, it’s important for parents to model good behavior by not drinking excessively or in risky or dangerous situations. For example, don’t drive a vehicle if you’ve been drinking alcohol.³

What’s at stake?

Underage drinking is a very serious problem. Alcohol is the most widely used substance of abuse among America’s youth, and results in about 1 of 4 deaths in boys and 1 of 6 deaths in girls age 15-20 years.² Furthermore, about 90% of the alcohol consumed by underage youth is in the form of binge drinks (i.e., while drinking to get drunk). Underage drinking is also associated with many health and social problems, including poor school performance, impaired driving, interpersonal violence, risky sexual behavior, and unintended pregnancy.

Since teens follow adults’ example, how can parents help everyone do better?

Parents can share information with legislators and other community leaders on effective strategies, such as:

• Raising the price of alcoholic beverages by increasing alcohol excise taxes.⁴
• Limiting availability of alcohol by restricting the number of retail outlets permitted to sell it, and limiting hours and days that alcohol can be sold.⁴
• Enforcing the 21 legal drinking age.⁴
• Curbing alcohol marketing that disproportionately targets young people.¹

Parents don’t always see themselves as empowered to influence their community, but when they get involved they really do make a big difference.

Learn more about:

• Steps your community can take
• Public policies that prevent underage drinking
• The 21 legal drinking age