Parenting
Have Fun
Set Rules
Follow Up
Be Aware
Stay Involved
Don’t underestimate the problem.
In Utah, drinking now begins as early as elementary school, and parents are often unaware of their child’s use of alcohol. In fact, in a national survey, 31 percent of kids who said they had been drunk in the past year had parents who believed their children were nondrinkers.1, 2
How to monitor
Help kids to choose friends wisely.
If your child’s friends drink, your child is much more likely to drink too. Peers who drink are the single greatest risk factor for underage alcohol use. Encourage your kids to choose friends who support your family values and no-alcohol rules.
Set RulesGet to know your kids’ friends and their parents. Just offering friends a ride to the mall gives you a chance to get to know them.
Discuss your no-alcohol policy with your kids’ friends and their parents. Enlist their support to help keep your kids in an alcohol-free environment.
If your child’s friends are drinking, should you talk to their parents? Of course. The risks of not saying anything are too high—both to their child and yours.
