7 Tips for Talking to Teens About Drinking Alcohol
By Khaila Thomas | March 7, 2025
Alcohol is the most used drug by young people in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), underage drinking causes about 4,000 deaths annually and increases the likelihood of adverse social and health outcomes.
As young people grow into adolescence, they’re more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as drinking alcohol while underage. Risk-taking is a normal component of adolescent development, which is why it’s up to trusted adults to have pivotal conversations that reduce the likelihood of harm and promote healthy behaviors.
To prepare for conversations with a teenager about drinking alcohol, begin with these tips.
1. Start conversations early and keep them continuous.
Talking about alcohol use sooner rather than later can shape a teenager’s actions and thoughts around alcohol. Having these discussions often, whether formal or informal, builds trust and decreases the likelihood a teenager will misuse alcohol or drugs.
2. Have a clear goal in mind during the discussion.
Whether you’re looking to understand their feelings about alcohol use or sharing a clear stance about drinking alcohol while underage—make sure to show up to the conversation with that in mind. This is a wide-ranging topic, and covering it all at once may be tricky. Framing it this way with a teenager also lets them know this will be a continuous dialogue throughout their adolescence.
3. Bring up general facts for their age demographic.
Once you decide the main point for your discussion with a teenager, back up your position with evidence-based research and facts. This is not to engage in scare tactics, but to share the possibility of short-term and long-term effects of alcohol use on their health and well-being. For example, discussing the possibility of memory loss, poor academic and athletic performance, or impaired judgment that can lead to other risky behavior. It’s also important to highlight that while underage alcohol consumption is common, most teens don’t drink. This can be a great time to talk about refusal skills that would feel comfortable and natural to your teen.
4. Be ready to listen.
Parents and caregivers are the most important influence on whether a young person drinks alcohol or associates with those that do. Providing a conversational space can bring up new information about a teenager, their peers, and their general thoughts about alcohol use. Perhaps they decide to share they’ve already tried drinking alcohol or maybe a close friend of theirs frequently sneaks alcohol into school. This is a time to absorb information, stay calm, and respond in a manner that is open to a discussion on values and expectations around alcohol use.
5. Allow for curiosity and questions.
What you planned for the conversation can take a turn as teenagers may ask a series of questions that take you down unexpected paths. A young person’s curious nature is a good thing! It shows that they’re learning from the conversation in a way that they will remember later. Be prepared that this also may be a space where a teenager’s curiosity turns into rebuttal. Accept the push-back and let them know that being misinformed about drinking alcohol is why the discussion is important for them to develop into a healthy adult.
6. Supply supportive educational materials.
Young people face images in media of teenagers drinking alcohol while underage and peer pressure, which can leave them confused or left with mixed feelings. As a parent or caregiver, you can provide them age-appropriate, evidence-based sources of information on the topic, such as books, pamphlets, videos, and websites. These materials can inspire more questions from a teenager that can help continue the conversation.
7. Remain a safe space.
Even after many conversations on drinking alcohol while underage, teenagers can find themselves in situations they wouldn’t expect to be in. For example, a friend of theirs may need a place to stay after drinking too much, or they got peer pressured into trying alcohol at a party. Be understanding and let them know they should reach out to you for help, if and when these situations happen. Moments like these may bring feelings of guilt and shame for teenagers, but showing up for them in a non-judgmental way builds trust in the relationship. This also allows you to set up additional discussions about them drinking underage and how they can protect themselves in the future.
Overall, talking to teenagers about drinking alcohol is an essential conversation to have throughout adolescence to achieve their best health. While it may feel overreactive to begin having conversations before teenagers are close to legal drinking age, young people ages 12 to 20 drink 3% of all alcohol consumed in the United States.
To decrease underage drinking, risky behaviors, and the adverse social and health effects that come with it, you can do your part by keeping the conversation at the forefront. Parents and caregivers are vital to shaping the health outcomes of youth in their lives, and the subject of alcohol use is an opportunity to make meaningful impact.
Resources to Prevent Teenagers Drinking Alcohol from ETR
Educational Materials: We have an extensive line of alcohol education materials that deliver a clear message—while many people use alcohol safely, it causes serious harm when abused. Our pamphlets also feature FREE samples available for download.
Master the Art of Teen Speak Online Course: This online, self-paced course helps bridge the communication gap, making interactions more effective and meaningful between parents and caregivers with teens.
Workbooks for Teens: Discussing alcohol with teenagers can bring up additional emotions and reasons for why they feel the need to drink. The ETR Store offers various workbooks for young people. These workbooks provide easy-to-use coping strategies and ways to deal with difficult feelings.
Youth-Led Substance Prevention: Learn three tips in thirty minutes from a FREE on-demand webinar with Youth to Youth. They are a community-based drug prevention and youth leadership program focusing primarily on middle school and high school students. Their goal is to harness the powerful influence of peer pressure—making it a positive force that encourages young people to live free of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
Khaila Thomas (she/her) is a Marketing and Communications Coordinator at ETR.
