Students are home for the holidays, a period when much alcohol is flowing. And parents, this is a great time to have a conversation with your teen regarding the minimum legal drinking age and your expectations. If they are in college, they have likely been exposed to a risky college drinking environment. Even middle and high school students see lots of provocative alcohol advertising. So, let them know that you endorse social host laws* and you want them to respect the law and not engage in risky behavior such as teen drinking. In addition, set a good example with respect to your own personal alcohol consumption during the holiday period.

Data from the Pride Student Drug Use Survey, conducted by the Coalition, shows that parents have a great influence in their kids' lives – parents who talk with them about alcohol and drugs influence youth choices about whether to engage in risky behavior. 

So, get them a great gift this year-health and safety!  Encourage your child to respect the minimum legal drinking age, 21, no matter what they may be seeing or hearing elsewhere. Set an example and do not provide alcohol to your kids and/or other youth at holiday parties or any other time of the year. It's the law and your kid’s good health depends on it. 

More Resources
To learn more about keeping youth alcohol free, please visit the Leadership for Alcohol Free Children at www.alcoholfreechildren.org;

To learn more about what youth are seeing in the way of alcohol advertising, visit the Center of Alcohol Marketing and Youth at http://camy.org;

To learn more about the college and drinking, visit College Drinking – Changing the Culture at www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov;

To learn more about social host law, which prohibits adults from furnishing alcoholic beverages to those who are under 21, visit www.socialhost.org and/or register to attend the Coalition’s Forum on Social Host Law (to be arranged for the spring of 2010) and become eligible to win one of two drawings for three (3) free tickets to Xavier Women’s Basketball or one of two drawings for a Cincinnati Reds Baseball 2010 Spring package worth $250.