Intervention Tips:Under Age Drinking

7 Intervention Tips for Under Age Drinking

Here are 7 basic tips to consider if you discover that your under age child is drinking:

                                   1.  Seek Professional Services

If you were an under age drinker and experienced no serious problems, be careful about under reacting to the discovery that your child is drinking.  And if you were not a teen drinker, an overreaction would not be helpful either.  

While the term “responsible teen drinking” is an oxymoron, like adults, there are different ways in which under age drinkers use alcohol and various levels of problems that develop. Evaluate the unique situation and intervene accordingly.  Seek guidance early from a family chemical dependency professional when you feel the under age drinking issues may become a significant problem.

                                   2. Check out Al-Anon

Try attending Al-Anon and other support groups of parents. Learning to identify the differences between abuse and addiction is important. Continue your education on  chemical dependency.

                                   3. Understand Your Teen

Work to gain a new understanding of why and how your teen has chosen to drink on the particular occasion. This knowledge is critical in order to develop and implement intervention strategies.

                                   4.  Open Dialogue

Learn how to invite open dialogue with your teen. Listening to his/her dissenting opinions or excuses about drinking may seem like nonsense to you, but listening works both ways. Listen first in order to influence your child to listen to you. Keep communication open. You will learn something.

                                   5.  Implement Consequences

Be firm, respectful, and convincing when you implement consequences. Do not become highly emotional or demonstrate anger inappropriately.  Remain calm and in control of yourself even as you express your anger, fear, frustration, and disappointment with your child’s behavior. Do not personalize your teen’s bad behavior.

                                   6.  Remain Persistent

Despite the violation, remain persistent in your efforts to prevent underage drinking.

                                    7.  Role model

Re-examine the role model you play, both in your drinking habits and in how you handle a crisis situation.

MORE INFO LINKS: Lists- 9 Prevention Tips for Under Age Drinking; Posts-Pt1 5-13-05, Pt2 5-18-08,

                                 Pt3 5-19-08, Pt4 5-23-08; Quizzes- Underage Drinking

©       Copyright 2008 P.H. Pickett, Ph.D.  All rights reserved.

        Contact  DrCoachLove@HireCoach.com.