Keeping Your Kids Aways From ‘The Bottle’ and Drinking

Alcohol and kids

It’s a combination that frightens every parent. Although your natural instinct is to protect your children from life’s dangers and potential risks, the truth is you can’t always be there when your kids are faced with tough decisions—and saying no to alcohol is one of them!

The pressure to drink can be enormous. So how can you be sure your child will make the wise, safe and godly choice?

As difficult as it is to imagine a child drinking, it’s essential that we understand how real a problem alcohol is among young people, especially Christians (who know they shouldn’t do such). Surprisingly, statistics show that many Christian kids experiment with alcohol in much the same way as their non-Christian peers.

Alcohol remains the drug of choice among all teenagers, and the drug most associated with risky behavior—drunk driving, teen pregnancy, suicide and violence but despite the frightening statistics, parents are not powerless to keep their kids away from alcohol. In fact, early parental intervention is one of the key factors in helping kids resist the temptation to drink. That means taking the time to talk to your children early and often about the risks of drinking. The more your children know about this potent drug, the better.

Unfortunately, one of the biggest mistakes you can make as a parent is to assume your children will NEVER use drugs or alcohol… Don’t ignore all the warning signs and then be shocked when you receive a phone call from the school, police, another parent or a nosy neighbour.

Child and adolescent therapist Beth Quinn warns parents to watch for emotional and physical changes, including mood swings, irrational behavior, clumsiness, laziness, depression or memory loss. Also pay attention to social clues, such as dropping old friends to hang out with a new crowd.

This piece would be without credit if we fail to mention the all-too important aspect of NIGERIAN PARENTS WHO DRINK! Many MANY Nigerian kids tip the bottle for a small sip of ‘what-daddy-drinks’ when no one is watching and that’s where it all starts…

So the big question is, how do you keep your kids away from alcohol if dear daddy has his precious collection stocked up at home? Is this even possible?