In the UK, the average age of the a whole alcoholic drink is age 12 and a half and by age 15 many teenagers are drinking regularly, so having a frank and open dialogue with your child and introducing the subject at an early stage is of great importance. Knowing what a unit is and how to recognise the strength of different drinks, the risks to them and their friends, how to resist peer pressure and what to do if things go wrong is crucial. We have included links to some excellent websites as well as to our own guide 'Alcohol and You' to equip you with facts and 'natural' ways to introduce the subject.

Talking To Your Children

Over a twelve month period, the young Britons, Irish and Swedes are twice as likely to have binge drinking occasions compared to the Italians and the French. Their lack of 'binge' culture is often explained by the Mediterranean lifestyle whereby alcohol is introduced at mealtimes and by the drinking environment which revolves around family meals, cafes and restaurants rather than pubs and clubs.

In a report on binge drinking, Adrian Furnham suggests that parents play the central and the most powerful causative role in establishing drinking patterns. Upbringing determines the child’s values, media consumption, friendships and expenditure as well as setting an example by their own drinking. It is vital for parents to recognise the excitement and rewards offered by drinking as part of ‘independence’. Demonising alcohol is counter productive and can lead to secret and unregulated drinking.

Get Talking

Young Children

It is illegal to give a child under 5 alcohol. However, If you drink alcohol at home, your children are bound to ask questions at an early age about what you are drinking and what it tastes like. It is tempting to say 'wait until you are older', but it is worth explaining to your child that little bodies can't digest alcohol, which is 'strong' so they should wait until they are older

11 year olds

The average age of a first whole alcoholic drink in the UK is twelve and a half, so its important to talk and for you child to have an understanding of units, how alcohol effects the body, why young bodies can't cope with alcohol and the risks they run by experimenting at an early age . Click here to learn more

Teenagers

Research show that teenagers experiment with alcohol and often with friends, but if their parents have been good and open role models and are ‘well socialised’ they are less likely to develop bad habits with respect to alcohol. By age 15 many are drinking regularly, so talking to your kids about sensible drinking guidelines, what a unit is, how to resist peer pressure and what happens to your reactions if you combine drinking and driving for example is of great importance - research has shown that emphasising the personal consequences of getting drunk, such as the increased likelihood of being sexually assaulted or robbed, plus the social embarrassment looking a fool in front of your mates helps delay the age, and the amount, that children start drinking.

If older teenagers show an interest, you can consider letting them have a small amount of wine mixed with water or beer occasionally at meal times at home. This is the Mediterranean way, and has proved to make alcohol be seen as more of a 'food' to be enjoyed at meal times than in Northern Europe where it is more associated with a rite of passage, 'taboo' and sneaking behind the bike sheds.

In licensed premises in England, 16 and 17 year olds can drink beer, wine or cider with a meal in an adults company, but cannot buy alcoholic drinks themselves.

Remember, parents are key – through example, knowing where your kids are and who they are with, sticking to rules you agree to and controlling monetary allowances you can help ensure that your children become responsible young adults.

Young Adults

Once your child has gone to college or is living away from home for the first time, it is harder to influence them and you have no control over the time they come home or how they drink and eat. The path should have been properly laid already to self respect and independence but the following advice may help:

> Highlight the consequences of drunkenness without effecting their friendships and social life, such as getting home safely, looking a fool in front of friends or partners and the risk of unprotected sex.

> Encourage them to pace themselves by alternating drinks, to eat before going out drinking or clubbing.

Under 5? It is illegal to give an alcoholic drink to a child under 5 except under medical supervision in an emergency.

Under 14? With the new licensing law, it is now at the Landlord's discretion as to whether children are allowed anywhere in a pub. They cannot of course, buy or drink alcohol on the premises.

14 or 15? You can go anywhere in a pub, but cannot buy or drink alcohol.

Under 18? Adults are not allowed to buy alcohol on behalf of under 18's in a licensed premises. In the new licensing laws, the only exception is for 16 or 17 year olds who are allowed to drink beer, wine or cider at a meal out with adults (but they may not buy the alcohol themselves).

It is legal for anyone over 5 to drink alcohol. The restrictions apply to purchasing (under 18) and location - on licensed premises or in alcohol exclusion zones.

Police have powers to confiscate alcohol from under 18's drinking in public spaces (e.g. in the street or in parks).