Underage Drinking: Warning Signs and Action Checklist

Prevention: Action Checklist for Parents

What You Can Do:

Establish a loving, trusting relationship with your child.
Make it easy for your teen to talk honestly with you.
Talk with your child about alcohol facts, reasons not to drink, and ways to avoid drinking in difficult situations.
Keep tabs on your young teen’s activities, and join with other parents in making common policies about teen alcohol use.
Develop family rules about teen drinking and establish consequences.
Set a good example regarding your own alcohol use and your response to teen drinking.
Encourage your child to develop healthy friendships and fun alternatives to drinking.
Know whether your child is at high risk for a drinking problem; if so, take steps to lessen that risk.
Know the warning signs of a teen drinking problem and act promptly to get help for your child.
Believe in your own power to help your child avoid alcohol use.