Kids and Alcohol; Sue Stanley for DrinkWise Australia

Published: 13-4-2012

Description: DrinkWise Ambassador Sue Stanley discusses her experience growing up and how she has carried those lessons forward as a parent. Children learn through observation and a parent's behaviour patterns are an important demonstration of how their kids are expected to behave, especially. When it comes to kids and alcohol parents must lead by example. The Australian drinking culture, such as alcohol at community sport, at the family dinner table and as a central focus at parties and celebrations, is sending an important message to kids. Alcohol plays a significant role in Australian society, but it should be ok for people to choose not to drink. Communicate with your kids and demonstrate that it's ok to choose not to drink, that you can stand up to peer pressure and stand by your decisions. Teenage drinking and binge drinking has become as much a part of Australia's drinking culture as a beer at the footy. Protecting your kids and keeping them safe from harm means delaying their introduction to alcohol and creating a cultural shift towards more responsible drinking.