There’s a great deal of misinformation about alcohol, social drinking, and alcohol abuse. It can be a powerful thing for parents to talk with children about the potential risks associated with alcohol use. As you talk to young adults about alcohol, you’ll be able to give them accurate information about drinking in college as well as share your beliefs and hopes for them.
Watch these videos to find out about some students' alcohol discussions with parents.
You can dispel myths.
For example, most college students believe is that drinking coffee will help sober you up, making you less drunk.
This is not true and can lead to situations where your student may take dangerous risks (such as drinking more or driving drunk) because they have just had a cup of coffee.
College students often begin drinking socially and think they can handle it on a regular basis while at the same time keeping things in perspective. There are long and short-term consequences of such experimentation.
It only takes a single episode of intoxication to change career expectations and cause arrests, accidents and even sexual assault.
We are not so naïve that we think parents talking with their college students about alcohol use will put an end to alcohol consumption. However, you should do everything in your power to discourage underage drinking or, at least, to encourage responsible behavior that does not put your student at risk of serious negative consequences.