What Parents Can Do

The role of parents in reducing youth access to alcohol

Parents play a central and important role in influencing their children's alcohol use. They control the availability of alcohol in the household, serve as role models of alcohol use, influence family norms on alcohol use, and set alcohol-related expectations for their children. Nevertheless, the efforts of even the most conscientious parents can be challenged by teens' easy access to alcohol throughout the community and the reality that parents cannot constantly monitor their children's activities to keep them alcohol-free. While reducing teens' access to alcohol is only one of the many steps parents should take to keep their teens alcohol-free, it is an important step and should be included in their overall approach to keep alcohol from their children.

Where, when and if parents may give alcohol to their children varies by state. In some states, parents may supervise their children's alcohol use in restaurants, whereas other states restrict parent-supervised alcohol use to the home or prohibit it altogether.

Social host liability laws allow people to be held liable for providing alcohol to underage youth who are not their own children. Although state laws vary, social host liability provides the legal right to sue adults who provide alcohol to another teen or knowingly allow underage alcohol use in their home. These adults may be sued for large sums of money to cover damages and injuries that result from that teen's intoxication (see social host liability policy).

• Monitor the alcohol supply in the home. The primary source of alcohol for young teens who are just beginning to drink alcohol is their own home or a friend's home. (1, 2) Therefore, parents can reduce youth access to alcohol by keeping alcohol out of the home or making it inaccessible to their children. If parents choose to keep alcohol in the home, storing alcohol in a locked cabinet or closet can help prevent teens from accessing it. Parents who do not want to lock their cabinets should regularly check their alcohol supply.
  
  
• Talk with other parents. Parents can talk with parents of their teenager's friends about whether underage alcohol use is prohibited at home. Parents can also ask other parents if their alcohol supply is inaccessible to youth and if unsupervised parties or gatherings in their homes are prohibited.
  
  
• Never purchase or provide alcohol to your teen's underage friends or other youth. Although some states' laws permit parents to provide alcohol to their own children, nearly every state prohibits adults from providing alcohol to other youth. Nevertheless, many parents illegally provide alcohol to their teen's friends at parties, family celebrations, etc. Regardless of their own beliefs about the acceptability of underage alcohol use, this behavior is likely illegal and could result in criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits.

  Although giving alcohol to one's own child is legal in most states, it may send them the message that drinking is okay and it may increase that child's risk of problems related to alcohol use. One study found that teens whose parents or friend's parents provided alcohol for parties were more likely to: drink, drink heavily, get in traffic crashes, be involved in violence and participate in thefts. (3)
  

• Begin or join community efforts to reduce youth access to alcohol. Parents are often the most visible and effective leaders in protecting the health and safety of children. Parents can contact their local public health agency or school to learn about and become involved in efforts to prevent teenage drinking. In addition, they can:
  • Meet with city council members to pass local ordinances to reduce youth access to alcohol.
  • Meet with owners and managers of alcohol establishments to encourage them to adopt practices that will help them reduce sales to youth.
  • Encourage police to do compliance checks.
    
  • Encourage faith organizations, schools, etc. to develop policies to reduce underage access to alcohol on their property and at their events.
    
    

Resources

A guide for keeping youth drug-free. (1996). DHHS Publication No. 407-844. Provides information, suggestions, and exercises to assist parents, grandparents, elders, mentors and other caregivers in preventing alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use among teens.
Contact: National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
1-800-729-6686; http://www.health.org

Minnesota Prevention Resource Center provides a variety of educational resources for parents of all ages.
Contact:
Minnesota Prevention Resource Center
2720 Highway 10 NE
Mounds View, MN 55112
1-800-782-1878
www.emprc.org

References

1. Wagenaar AC, Toomey TL, Murray DM, Short BJ, Wolfson M, Jones-Webb, R. Sources of alcohol for underage drinkers. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 57(3):325-333, 1996.
   
2. Wagenaar AC, Finnegan JR, Wolfson M., Anstine PS, Williams CL, Perry CL. Where and how adolescents obtain alcoholic beverages. Public Health Reports, 108(4):459-464, 1993.
   
3. Perry, C., & Williams, C. [Project Northland: 10th Grade Student Survey]. Unpublished raw data, 1997.
   

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