Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) is a serious criminal offence that can land a person behind bars. The pity in the present society is that the number of teenage DWI offender is really increasing and parents must play a dominant part to curb it.

Parental Guidance curbs Alcohol Abuse

Recently, studies had been conducted on 15- 16 year old UK students to see the link between parental guidance and alcohol abuse. It has been clearly proven that parental guidance has decreased the use of alcohol directly.

The parents who show a more favorable and tolerant attitude towards alcohol seem to have the most affected and high substance user children.

The Media Effect Vs Parental Effect

The Media plays a vital role and depicts a more tolerant society towards alcohol abuse. Alcohol ads promotes interests and desire for beer toys/ brands. However, even this negative effect can be nullified and neutralized if parents provide proper guidance.

How Can Parents stop Underage Drinking?

Parents play the most vital role in stopping underage drinking. The recent trend of social drinking has started among school and college kids too. Parents are starting to view it as a rite of passage or a passing phase and thus, don’t try to stop them. This is a wrong attitude and you should definitely not tolerate drink/ drugs use in your child.

Underage drinking should not be viewed as a part of growing up. Some parents even permit their kids to drink at home as they feel this is much safer than getting drunk at some unsafe place. But, if you give your kid alcohol and permit them to drink at home, then you are sending out wrong signals. You need to put your foot down and oppose underage drinking.

Are Parents liable for Underage Drinking?

Any adult (or adults, including parents!) who supply alcohol to any person who is below the age of 21 will be liable if the under-aged person is killed /injured or kills/ injures. Apart from that, parents can be held liable if underage drinking occurs at their home when they are not at home or it takes place somewhere on their property without their knowledge. Though these laws do appear stringent, they are ensuring that the kids are enjoying intoxication-free parties.

Childhood is a precious time and there is so much to excite teenagers that they definitely do not need alcohol to get high. So, parents should not tolerate underage drinking. Remember, parental guidance goes a long way towards stopping alcohol abuse in children and teenagers.