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a pub, or even the alcohol section of the supermarket. That cannot be further from the truth.

We need to learn to talk to our children about Alcohol. This is never easy. NIAAA has an excellent publication that addresses this issue (Make A Difference: Talk to Your Child About Alcohol http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publ ications/MakeADiff_HTML/makedi ff.htm). In a nutshell, choose an appropriate time to talk to them about the alcohol, and do not try to cover everything at one go, but make it an ongoing conversation topic with your child. Do not make it as if you are lecturing him or her, but seek his or her views too so that you know where he or she stands. Discuss the effect of alcohol, and reason with the child why he or she should not drink. An open communication makes the child feel that his or her views are valued, and that this is not a one way instruction.

I encourage you to download the read the entire publications as it gives much more valuable advise on how you can make a difference in your child's life by talking to him or her openly regarding alcoholism.

As parents, we have a very important role to play on regards to exposing our child to the world of alcoholism. The bottom line is to develop a strong, trusting relationship with your child. Research studies indicate that children are less likely to drink when their parents are involved with them and when they and their parents report feeling close to each other.* ## When you have a strong bond with the child, the likelihood of them coming to you with their problems are greater, and you will be able to address and identify problem areas early and deal with it.

@ http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/Resou rces/DatabaseResources/QuickFa cts/AlcoholDependence/abusdep3 .htm

* Grant BF. 2000. Estimates of US children exposed to alcohol abuse and dependence in the family. American Journal of Public Health 90(1):112-115.

# Hingson RW, Hereen T, Winter MR. 2006. Age at drinking onset and alcohol dependence: Age at onset, duration, and severity. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 160(7):739-746.

* Hawkins JD, Graham JW, Maguin E, et al. 1997. Exploring the effects of age of alcohol use initiation and psychosocial risk factors on subsequent alcohol misuse. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 58(3):280-290.

## Resnick MD, Bearman PS, Blum RW, et al. 1997. Protecting adolescents from harm: Findings from the National Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health. Journal of the American Medical Association 278(10):823-832.

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