*A quarter of thirteen year olds say they've been drunk at least twice
* A fifth of sixteen year olds have been involved in violence after drinking
* Alcohol puts more than 500 Welsh boys and girls aged under 16 in hospital each year
"Eventually, all children face tough decisions. The sooner we talk to them about alcohol,
the less chance there is that drink will make decisions for them"
70% of children look to their parents for advice about drinking
so start the conversation NOW
by clicking here for the Drinkwise Wales website or here for the Welsh language website
Dos & Don’ts - Guidance for parents when talking to your child about alcohol
Do
Make the first move and bring up the topic of alcohol
Make time to listen to what they have to say
Respect their views if you want the same in return
Discuss the risks associated with drinking alcohol
Discuss possible consequences of their actions and encourage them to make the right decisions
Don’t
Assume your child doesn’t want to talk
Assume they already know everything
Interrupt or be judgemental, even if you don’t agree with their opinion
Agreeing Alcohol Rules and Boundaries
Do
Set realistic rules and boundaries and stick to them
Agree rules together with your child.
Discuss why you need the rules
Reach for an agreement on the consequences of breaking the rules
Reward your child when they keep to the set boundaries
Don’t
Impose rules that you haven’t discussed with your child
If your child comes home drunk
Do
Stay calm
Wait until the next day to discuss things
Choose a good time to talk
If you’re worried, always seek medical advice
Don’t
Talk things through when your child is under the influence of alcohol
Get drawn into arguments
Supervising your Child
Do
Know who your child is with and what they’re doing
Show an interest in what your child’s interests are, who their friends are, and where they’re likely to hang out
Get to know your child’s friends
Talk to parents of your child’s friends and agree boundaries together
When asking about your child’s activities, friends and whereabouts, make sure your child knows it’s because you care about them – not because you distrust them
If you keep alcohol in the home be aware of how accessible it is
Don’t
Assume other parents have the same ideas as you regarding children and alcohol – find out their views
Click here for the Drinkwise Wales website
or here for the Welsh language website