Kids and alcohol don’t mix
Make no mistake: tweens are exposed to alcohol, and they are curious about it. Before they are presented with the option to drink or not drink, it is crucial to arm them with the information they need to make the right decisions. Ask, Listen, Learn: Kids and Alcohol Don’t Mix provides you with information and practical tips on how to talk to teens about alcohol. They need to know that not only does alcohol affect their developing brains, but it’s also illegal to consume before the age of 21. It is important to have these conversations early and often, building a strong relationship with your kids so the conversations about responsibility continue as they grow up.
Our research shows that most parents (92%) have spoken to their kids at least once in the past year about alcohol consumption, and that these conversations are working. Over the past 20 years, current underage drinking rates have decreased 60%, proportionally.
Access our infographic, Caregivers: Don’t Underestimate the Power of Conversations, and keep up the good work engaging in conversations and modeling responsible behaviors.
The Facts
Conversations are happening! 92% of parents have spoken with their kids about the dangers of drinking alcohol in the past year. (Responsibility.org, APCO Insights, February 2025)
Conversations matter! For more than 20 years, conversations between kids and parents about alcohol have increased 44% (Responsibility.org, APCO Insights, February 2025). During this same time, current underage drinking rates have decreased 60%. (Monitoring the Future, 2024)
Statistics About Kids and Underage Drinking
41% of kids believe they will be faced with a decision regarding drinking or not drinking alcohol within the next year. (Responsibility.org, APCO Insights, February 2025)
More than 1-in-5 youth (23%) report they have been offered alcohol, and 21% say they have attended a party where alcohol was served or available. (Responsibility.org, APCO Insights, February 2025)
According to the 2024 Monitoring the Future study, 40 percent of 8th grade students think it is “fairly easy” or “very easy” to access alcohol. Unfortunately, these numbers increase with age, as the percentage grows to 51% among 10th graders and 74% among 12th graders.
Parents Are The Leading Influence
Parents underestimate their influence in their child(ren)’s decisions about alcohol. Fifty percent of youth cite their parents as the leading influence in their decision to drink alcohol or not, but only about one-third (32%) think they are the leading influence. (Responsibility.org, APCO Insights, February 2025)
Among 10-18 year olds, five percent report that in the past year they “never” had a conversation with their parents about the dangers of alcohol. (Responsibility.org, APCO Insights, February 2025)
More than half of parents (54%) say they need information on the health effects of underage drinking to have meaningful conversations about underage drinking. (Responsibility.org, APCO Insights, February 2025)
More than half of parents (54%) say they need information on the health effects of underage drinking to have meaningful conversations about underage drinking. (Responsibility.org, APCO Insights, February 2025)
Two-thirds of parents (65%) are concerned about underage drinking when it comes to their child(ren)’s health and well-being, and 60% are concerned about underage cannabis and marijuana use. (Responsibility.org, APCO Insights, February 2025)
