Sue Scheff: Underage Drinking - Talk to your Teens - Family Talk

Each year at this time, teens begin planning for some of the most memorable moments of their lives, including celebrating proms and graduations with friends and family. To help keep these celebrations safe for everyone, it¹s important to remind adults to encourage teens to celebrate safely and without alcohol.

According to the 2009 GfK Roper Youth Report, 68 percent of youth, ages 8 to 17, cite their parents as the number one influence on their decisions about whether they drink alcohol or not. In addition, government research shows that teens who report drinking usually get their alcohol from adults.

To help prevent underage drinking, the Family Talk program encourages open, honest communication between parents and children. Developed by an advisory panel of education, family counseling, child psychology and alcohol treatment professionals, Family Talk materials are distributed free to parents and educators by Anheuser-Busch and its national network of distributors.

These materials may be downloaded at http://www.familytalkonline.com/  in English and Spanish.

Progress is being made in the fight against underage drinking, by raising awareness and through sound educational programs and strong partnerships. In fact, 85 percent of adolescents, ages 12 to 17, are doing the right thing by not drinking, according to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that teen drunk-driving fatalities have declined 34 percent since 2000.


Be an educated parent, you will have safer and healthier teens.

Read more on Examiner.

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