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Publication #FAR0802

 

Talking with Young Children about Alcohol1

Diana Converse and Kate Fogarty2

When playing the "blame game," fingers often point in many directions when dealing with the issue of underage drinking.

Research has found that children and even teenagers are mostly influenced by their peers and family—namely, parents and siblings—when making decisions about using alcohol (Windle 2000). For example, researchers have learned that teens' drinking and substance use behavior was highly influenced by sibling behavior (Windle 2000). Also, teens that spend a lot of time around parents who drink are more likely to drink themselves (Yu 2003). However, this same study showed that parents who set firm limits on underage drinking tend to have teens who are less likely to drink.

What does this mean for parents who want to educate their children about alcohol use? It's a good idea to start early by creating an environment where children feel comfortable about asking questions and discussing feelings. Be realistic when talking about alcohol; exaggerating the dangers is not effective. Discuss the facts about alcohol use as well as your values. Know your teen's daily schedule, and set clear limits on underage drinking. Monitor who your teen becomes friends with, and get to know their parents. Most teenage drinking occurs in someone's home, such as that of a peer. Most important, examine your own behaviors about drinking and realize that your children will most likely adopt these behaviors.

Listening, learning, and living together: it's the science of life. "Family Album" is a co-production of University of Florida IFAS Extension, the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, and of WUFT-FM. If you'd like to learn more, please visit our website at http://www.familyalbumradio.org.

To listen to the radio broadcast:

http://www.radiosource.net/radio_stories/alcoholtalk.mp3

http://www.radiosource.net/radio_stories/alcoholtalk.wav

References

Grube, J. W. (2002). Alcohol advertising: A study of children and adolescents. Retrieved June 15, 2005, from http://www.prev.org/prc/prc_videopresentations_grube_aasca.html.

Windle, M. (2000). Parental, sibling, and peer influences on adolescent substance use and alcohol problems. Applied Developmental Science, 4, 98-110.

Yu, J. (2003). The association between parental alcohol-related behaviors and children's drinking. Drug & Alcohol Dependence, 69, 253-262.

Footnotes

1.

This document is FAR0802, one of a series of the Family Youth and Community Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Broadcast as program 198. Published February 2008. Revised April 2009. Reviewed March 2012. In the interest of time and/or clarity, the broadcast version of this script may have been modified. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Diana Converse, Extension agent III, Hillsborough County, Cooperative Extension Service, and Kate Fogarty, assistant professor, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.