by Priscilla Benfield

Created on: June 16, 2009   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

As any experienced parent knows, forbid your child from doing something and that makes it all the more attractive. Forbidding alcohol without discussion can encourage your teen to want to find out what you are trying to hide from them. Teaching children and teens about the dangers and the pleasures of alcohol is responsible parenting. Every parent is entitled to raise their children how they see fit but ignoring the natural curiosity that occurs during the teen years can be damaging to your teens health and safety.

Many families come from cultures where it is acceptable to drink a glass of wine with dinner. When children are raised in an atmosphere where the adults normally do this, they have an idea of how alcohol can be used responsibly. A child who is raised in an alcoholic household is often threatened to not drink but are receiving a mixed message on alcohol use. The tendency for a child to develop a problem with alcohol who was raised in a home where alcohol was abused, is higher than in other homes.

Alcohol, even though it is legal to be used by adults, is a drug. Most people do not think of it that way but they should. Many people can be social drinkers without having any negative repercussions and others develop addictions. Teens who drink, often do so to excess and many tragic stories can be told of alcohol poisoning, car accidents and violence all due to alcohol abuse. Alcohol is legal for adults because it takes a responsible adult to understand how to drink responsibly.

Children and teens should be taught by their parents on what is responsible behavior when it comes to alcohol. Children and teens are taught in many school districts about alcohol and drugs. Whether a parent decides to allow their teen to use alcohol in their home or maintains a no-use policy, teaching how to drink responsibly is a necessity. If a parent maintains that they do not want their teen to drink until they reach the legal age, that is fine but a discussion should still be had.

If a parent teaches their teen to not have premarital sex, I am sure they are going to tell them why they feel that way. When a parent says 'no' with no explanation to why, it will make the teen more curious.

Remember what it was like to be a teen and what your parents views were on drinking. We want our teens to grow up safe and healthy. We need to do our jobs as parents and discuss adult issues like drinking alcohol with our teens. Although they will soon be adults, they have a lot to learn about being adults. It is a parents job to help guide them.

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