Talking to Kids About Alcohol

Teens who drink are more likely to:

• have problems with school work and school conduct. 
• be victims of violent crime, including rape, aggravated assault, and robbery.
• be sexually active at earlier ages and to have unprotected sex than teens who do not drink. 
• be involved in an alcohol-related traffic crash -- a major cause of death among young people. Alcohol use also is linked with teen deaths by drowning, suicide, and homicide. 

In addition, a person who begins drinking as a young teen is four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than someone who waits until adulthood to use alcohol. The message is clear: Alcohol use is risky for young people. The longer children delay alcohol use, the less likely they are to develop problems associated with it. That’s why it is so important to help children avoid any alcohol use.  

Parents and other caring adults have more influence on a child’s values and decisions about drinking before he or she begins to use alcohol. Talk to the children in your life and let them know your expectations about not drinking alcohol.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism