This might be long so sorry!
My DS1 (17) seems to have really gone off the rails a bit since he started sixth form in September.
We moved house in the summer holidays so he is at sixth form at a different school (but he wanted to leave his old school anyway because he wanted a "fresh start")but we are only a 10/15 minute car ride from where we used to live
He has started drinking much more heavily since October/November time but unlike before he has started to just stay out rather than come home.
He is in danger of being kicked off his football team (which he has been in since he was 7) because the last few matches he has either turned up hungover or not turned up at all. It all came to a head just before Christmas because he threw up whilst playing and according to the manager he stunk of booze. (We don't go with him anymore, he gets a lift with another team member)
He goes out nearly every Friday and Saturday night and drinks himself silly, he has been arrested once because he was at a house party which got broken up and he kicked off at the police (night in cells, sixth form gave all involved a written warning)
His work at sixth form is not good, he has made friends with people in the year above him (Yr 13) who have a lot more free lessons than him and who can drive; he often skips lessons and they go into the nearest town or go back to one of his friends' houses.
The Sixth form have given him one written warning (for the arrest) and a few verbal warnings although apparently because he is still managing to pass most of his lessons "It isn't a major concern".
I understand all teenagers need to rebel - but it is starting to affect my other kids. He plays completely inappropriate music at all hours of the day which my 4 year old can hear - ipod speakers have been confiscated but he just plays it through his laptop
He broke up with his long term girlfriend in November and has had lots of different girls since then - my DD says that he has got a reputation of being a bit of a shit to girls.
That probably didn't make much sense but I feel like I have failed - what can I do? I cannot take away money because we don't give him any as it is, we have tried grounding but he just doesn't listen, we have tried speaking to him like an adult but he just swears at us and storms out....
If you have read this far then thank you!