How Can You Tell If Your
Teenager is Drinking?
Unfortunately, initial signs of teen alcohol use are typically not obvious. Unless a teen is having serious problems with alcohol, it may be hard to know they are drinking without regular monitoring. However, parents and caregivers who carefully monitor their teens can greatly reduce the risks of alcohol use and abuse.
The most important fact to know is that kids who learn from their parents about the dangers and consequences of underage drinking are less likely to use and abuse alcohol.

80% of parents
don’t believe
their teen is drinking-;
they believe “it’s
somebody else’s kid.”

When to Monitor
Kids are always at risk and there are countless opportunities for them to test the limits. Effective monitoring needs to be an ongoing process throughout your child’s teenage years. It takes place continuously whenever they’re away from you: after school, weekends, evening social events, etc. It is especially important to know where your teen is, who they are with, if alcohol will be present, and if there will be adult supervision.
Kids often get in trouble after school between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. or during evening and weekend social activities. If you can’t be with your child at this time, encourage your teen to do something positive with adult supervision, such as sports, jobs, clubs or after school programs.

How to Monitor
Before your teenager leaves, make sure that curfews and rules are understood and ask:
• Where are you going?
• What are you doing?
• Who will you be with?
• Will alcohol be present?
• Will there be adult supervision?

During
• Have your teenager check in while they’re gone.

AFTER
When your teenager returns:
• Check for coherence when kids return from social activities. (Some parents like to check unobtrusively for alcohol on their breath.)
• Talk about what happened while they were away.
• Ask if alcohol was present.
• Ask if any problems or peer pressure were encountered.
• Ask how they handled problems or peer pressure.

ONGOING
Talk frequently with your kids about alcohol. They are always at risk and consistency matters.
• Know who your kids’ friends are
• Know the places they hang out
• Show up early to observe your teen’s behavior
• Work with other parents — get lists of emails and phone numbers
• Occasionally check to see that your kids are where they say they are
• Teach your kids how to refuse alcohol without embarrassment
• Be a good role model for your teens; what you say — and do — matters
• Praise and reward good behavior

More Monitoring Tips
GET INVOLVED
• Teach kids how to have fun without drinking through sports, family activities, hobbies, clubs, etc.
• Regularly help with homework
• Encourage your teen to seek your help on important decisions
• Eat dinners frequently as a family

ESTABLISH & ENFORCE RULES AT HOME
• Set and enforce limits and boundaries
• Praise and discipline your teen when merited

FOLLOW THROUGH - BE CONSISTENT
• Do not furnish alcohol to teenagers
• Do not allow teenagers to consume alcohol in your home
• Support the legal drinking age of 21