WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG?” “Did You Drink Honesty is important, and you should not lie to your child if you did drink underage. You could say: “Yes, I did, and I regret it. I want you to be better informed than I was at your age and make safer choices.”
Communicating Family Values
Many parents teach their children basic family values, such as honesty and responsibility, but don’t always connect these values to real-world situations involving alcohol and other substances. They assume their child will naturally apply these principles when making decisions. That’s a risky assumption. The teen brain is still developing, and young people don’t always make the same logical connections that seem obvious to adults. That’s why it’s critical to have open, direct conversations about alcohol, cannabis, and
other substances—reinforcing not just values but also clear expectations and rules. The best way to ensure these conversations happen regularly is by making them a natural part of family discussions. Holding routine family meetings can provide a structured way to talk about important topics, including peer pressure, risky situations, and family rules. Keeping the lines of communication open—starting early and continuing through the teen years—helps teens feel supported, heard, and more willing to share their own thoughts and concerns.
Parent Tip: Keep the conversation about alcohol open, even if your teen says what you want to hear “I don’t drink.” Do: Talk about alcohol use and how to handle risky situations, regardless of what your teen admits. Don’t: Skip the conversation about alcohol use, assuming your teen isn’t at risk yet.
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