Parents play a critical role in preventing their children from using alcohol, but many don’t know what to do.  Luckily, there are resources available to parents. First, don’t treat alcohol use as just “part of growing up” and never provide alcohol to your children or their friends. Even if you feel that they are going to drink anyway and at least they’ll be safe at home, this is illegal and encourages their alcohol use.

But even if you would never considering serving alcohol to underage children, you may not know how to discourage them from using it elsewhere. If you don’t know how to talk to your children about this issue, there are guides available providing tactics for having these discussions. If possible, start young, well before your child will be in a position to be offered alcohol. Discuss strategies with your child for how to say no, including that someone who is really their friend will respect their decision and accept a no, rather than continuing to pressure. Offer to be the bad guy: “My mom will absolutely kill me. She can smell alcohol a mile away.” If appropriate, they can use sports or other activities as an excuse, that they have a big game or competition tomorrow, that they’re in training, or other such excuses. A polite but firm “no, thank you” refusal is often all it takes.

Finally, if your child is in a situation where alcohol is being served, make sure they have a safe way home. Whether they were participating or just that their drivers are teens drinking and driving, repeatedly let them know that you will come pick them up, no questions asked, rather than risk having them get in a teens and drinking situation. With some of the teens binge drinking that is going on now you can never be too safe.