When talking to your child, be sure that you make it into a conversation where you will listen and consider their thoughts and feelings on the consumption of alcohol, as it is important to value their opinions.

When talking to your child about alcohol you should always keep it factual and as current as possible by not only referring to alcohol related damage which may happen when they are 40 - although it is important to refer to long term damage too. To a 16-year-old the age of 40 seems like a time that will never come. They may also think that drinking alcohol at a young age won’t have any effect on them and that it is something they can worry about later on. Instead raise the issues of alcohol that will concern them now, such as how they look, feel and appear in front of their peers. These could include the effects of binge drinking, the strengths of different drinks and safety issues.