Keep Calm and Carry a Positive Attitude

When conversations about alcohol between parents and kids increase, underage drinking rates decrease. And when it comes to conversations with kids, attitude is everything.   

Your attitude sets the stage for any conversation, whether you’re talking to your tween about alcohol for the first time, continuing the conversation, or seizing a teachable moment. Having a calm and positive attitude can influence your tweens’ thoughts and understanding about alcohol and help them say “NO” to underage drinking.  

Here are some strategies for how to stay calm and exhibit positivity during your conversation: 

Think about what you want to say ahead of time and keep it simple.

Your tween will shut down if they sense a lecture, so focus on a few key takeaways: underage drinking affects developing brains and bodies,  it’s illegal to drink before you’re 21, and you are there for them when they need help or advice. 

Be confident and don’t underestimate the power of your influence.

Parents are the #1 influence on your kids’ decision to drink- or not drink- alcohol. Take a deep breath and remember- you’ve got this!

Address the conversation openly and honestly.

Your tween is smart so there’s no need to dumb down a conversation when talking about alcohol. 

Share positive news like the fact that most kids do not drink and underage drinking continues to decline.

In fact, more than 6 out of 10 teens report they have never consumed alcohol (Monitoring the Future, January 2024)! Normalizing this makes it easier for them to say “NO” to peer pressure.  

Start a conversation in the car while listening to a favorite playlist together.

Inviting your tween to be in charge of the music puts them at ease and a drive is a great time to capitalize on your time together to have a meaningful conversation about the risks and consequences of consuming alcohol underage. 

Show yourself grace.

If you feel like the conversation doesn’t go the way you wanted it to, that’s OK—it’s an ongoing conversation. And the only “BAD” conversation that you can have with your kids is the one that never happens.  

April is Alcohol Responsibility Month, and by continuing conversations with your tween about the dangers of underage drinking in a calm and positive manner, you are empowering them to say “YES” to a healthy lifestyle and “NO” to underage drinking. Be on the lookout for additional tips from Ask, Listen, Learn for talking with your tween about alcohol throughout the year.  

-The Ask, Listen, Learn Team