Young People and Alcohol >

Conversations About Alcohol Consumption

Research demonstrates that parents have a vital role to play in preventing underage drinking and shaping their children's behaviour. Many initiatives focus on providing parents with the proper tools - whether parenting tips or sample conversations or basic factual information - teach their children about responsible consumption. Other approaches aim to discourage parents from providing alcohol beverages to underage individuals.

Materials to educate parents can be presented interactively or as handouts (e.g., brochures or leaflets). They may be tailored to the gender or age of the parent’s child.

Interactive

Information for parents can be presented through a variety of media:

  • Websites
  • Videos
  • Public forums/meetings

Materials can include the following sections:

  • General information
  • Tips
  • Fact sheets
  • Q & A
  • Sample dialogues
  • Ask the expert
  • Parent-child contracts
  • Blogs or forums
  • Quizzes

Informational

Brochures and leaflets (print or online) that usually provide the following information:

  • Information about underage drinking
  • Sample parent-child conversations about drinking
  • Parenting tips
  • Positive role modeling

Featured Initiative

Positive Parenting Connection

Sponsor: Anheuser-Busch, United States

    • A website hosted by MySpace, includes informational materials, tips and links to resources that offer parents helpful advice on preventing underage drinking.
    • It features tips and videos as well as expert opinions and advice for interested parents

For more information, see their website.

Further Resources

Useful Approaches for this topic.