Underage Drinking Vestal NY

1. Talk about it. A lot. It is important for parents to communicate with their children about everything--including drinking. If you never talk to your child about drinking, he may think that it's no big deal to you. But it is a big deal. Besides the fact that it is illegal for a person under the age of 21 to consume alcohol, teenagers don't have the maturity level to gauge how much alcohol their bodies can handle--or to realize the consequences of consuming too much. Have an open conversation with your teen on the subject and ask your child if drinking has been an issue with his circle of friends. While it may be impossible to keep your kids from their friends that do drink, you can express your feelings about it.
   
   
2. State your rules clearly. You don't want to sound like a tyrant, but you must make your rules known--and in no uncertain terms. If your child has already experimented with drinking, it's important to tell her that it is unacceptable for a teenager to drink. You must also talk to your child about the dangers of drinking and driving. As we all know, teenagers think they are invincible. You may have to set a punishment, like grounding or taking away the teen's driving privileges for a set period of time, if she breaks the rules. Yes, your child may resent you and yes, there may be arguments between the two of you. But teen drinking should really be a non-negotiable issue.
   
   ...

Click here to read the rest of the article at HowToDoThings.com

Author: Victoria Miller