Talking About Alcohol

CONSEQUENCES As a parent, be ready to follow through and enforce consequences if your child violates a family rule against underage drinking.

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GET BEHIND 21: Did you know that 21 is one of the most researched laws? Numerous studies show that the 21 drinking age law has saved thousands of lives. There are no benefits to drinking underage. No matter where the study is conducted, the results are always the same. If drinking was helpful to young people wouldn’t doctors and teachers recommend it?

DO

Impose a consequence if your teen violates an agreement. Impose consequences consistently. Be very clear about underage drinking. Be truthful and balance the conversation.

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DON'T

Base your actions on anger.

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Impose a consequence arbitrarily, in the heat of the moment. Use scare tactics; these tend to cause teens to dismiss you and stop listening.

Download the full handbook online at madd.org/ powerofparents for more tips on assumptions vs. facts. Know the actual data versus common assumptions so you can set appropriate rules and consequences.

10 Consequences

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3/21/17 3:20 PM

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