Teach your child to say no to underage drinking
Teenagers who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to become alcohol dependent.
IN an attempt to reduce underage drinking among children, the South African Breweries’ (SAB) has issued a parent guide to help families use open communication to address this growing concern.
Alcohol Policy manager at SAB, Rowan Dunne said, “As a parent it is your responsibility to keep them safe from underage drinking by teaching them that alcohol is for adult consumption only and to equip them with the right tools and knowledge to say no to alcohol when they are away from your supervision.”
Here are a few guidelines to help your child say no to underage drinking:
Listen to your children:
Ensure your child feels comfortable to talk to you about any issues, including alcohol. Listen to them, don’t judge and let them know they can come to you and trust you.
Teach them to deal with peer pressure:
Give them some examples of how to say ‘no’. If your child is offered alcohol, here are some examples of what he or she can say, which includes using white lies that involve you or the other parent:
- No thanks
- Not today, thanks
- I don’t like the way it (beer, wine, cider) tastes
- I’ll be grounded for life if my dad finds out I’ve been drinking
- My mom will not teach me how to drive if she finds out I have been drinking
- I need all my brain cells for rugby practice (math test, homework) tomorrow
If your child is offered alcohol, here are some examples of what he or she can do:
- Leave the scene
- Change the subject
- Laugh it off
Encourage your children to engage in recreational activities and spend quality time with your children:
Motivate your teens to take part in activities that develop interests and skills that will help them feel good about themselves without the use of alcohol.
According to research from the 2012 University of South Africa (UNISA) Youth Research Unit Substance Abuse Survey, teenagers who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to become alcohol dependent than those who have their first drink at age 20 or older. Sixty seven per cent of teens who drink before the age of 15 will go on to use illegal drugs.
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