Hi all
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (Ed Balls' bit) have approached us for some help. They are launching a campaign in January about young people and alcohol and want to include useful advice on their website aimed at parents - and this is where we come in. They want the advice to be from parents and based on real life experiences. They have a number of scenarios (see below) and want to know what parents would do/ what their advice would be in each of them. Plus they want to know if there are other situations parents have found themselves in where they would have valued advice/ or can offer advice based on that experience?
Here are scenarios: What do you do/say
?If your child comes home drunk
?If your child asks about alcohol at dinner etc
?If your child is going to a party and you think there might be alcohol there
?If your child is going out and asks to take alcohol with them
?If your child has friends round and they bring alcohol with them
If an older sibling gives your younger child alcohol
?If your child sees you drunk / asks about your drinking
?How to supervise your child if they choose to drink
Going to secondary school (as by age 13 most young people have tried alcohol)
We think it would also be interesting to hear how Mumsnetters talk to their children about alcohol (if at all). Do you allow them to have a taste now and again (and from what age?)
At what age do you think it's acceptable to drink ?
Is at least one episode of drunkeness inevitable/desirable so they "get it out of their system". How do you reconcile what you were like as a young person (whether you were a heavy drinker or a tee totaller) with the advice you're offering?
What "tricks" to look out for (you know the vodka in the water bottle thing) and what works best in terms of actually affecting behaviour ie is it scare tactics - you'll get raped/ mugged, it'll damage your health/make you less attractive, sanctions, or a laissez faire approach based on the idea that they will soon learn when they get sick/ a hangover?
What do you say about your own drinking?
It's a massive topic (and a pretty massive post) we know, but we didn't want to restrict it too much, so have deliberately left it quite open so we can help to gather the best bits of advice, anecdotes etc.
Thanks in advance for your help,
MNHQ
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Young people and alcohol. Advice, tips and opinions needed
59 replies
carriemumsnet · 24/11/2009 23:03
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