My personal beliefs about drinking
Discuss your personal beliefs with your child. Sharing your values and family history relating to alcohol will create an environment of trust and understanding.
If you drink alcohol:
- Explain your own personal rules for drinking responsibly and in moderation.
- Be clear that you expect them to ABSTAIN from alcohol use until they are at least 21.
- If they decide to drink when they are of legal age, they should only do so in moderation.
If you choose not to drink alcohol:
- Explain your reasons for not drinking, whether they are moral, religious, health- related, or due to family history.
- Encourage your children to talk with you if they have questions about why you choose not to drink.
- Be clear that you want them to abstain from alcohol use.
- Explain that when they are 21, if they decide to drink, they should do so in moderation.
If someone in the family drinks too much or is in recovery:
- If your family has a history of alcoholism, your children need to know that they are at a greater risk for problem drinking.
- Explain that alcoholism is a progressive disease that is a combination of physical addiction and mental obsession with drinking.
- Communicate the importance of abstaining from alcohol. Tell your children that they need to delay drinking for as long as possible and recommend that they not drink at all. Explain that the older they are before they take a drink, the lower the chances that they will have problems with alcohol.
- Let your children know that drinking under the legal age of 21 is a major risk for people with a family history of alcoholism.
- Inform them that alcoholism is a treatable disease with many successful treatment options.
- Be clear that you support family members who are in recovery.
