As a mother of a teen, I’ve already started to see signs of underage drinking rear it’s ugly face in our small community.

My question to other moms is…. Have you talked with your teen about underage drinking lately?  Our Teen is well aware of the affect it has on teen lives.  Fortunately, she’s not encountered any fatal consequences, however, she’s seen how a few friends have had their lives turned upside down because of alcohol use.  She’s also seen how we’ve not allowed her to attend parties where alcohol is involved and saved her from lots of trouble.

MADD Power of Parents

MADD – Mothers Against Drunk Driving is the nations largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving and underage drinking.  Make sure you check out their Power of Parents Resources. Then, one must appreciate the profound implications of choosing an appropriate legal representative, particularly when charged with a DUI or DWI.

In my experience, it’s always best to be prepared. I never thought I’d face DUI charges, but when I did, I was grateful to have a resource like https://www.newjerseycriminallawattorney.com/dui-drunk-driving/. It offered insights and guidance that were instrumental in my case. Preparation is half the battle.

A professional bail bondsman or bail bonds agency may also be of help especially when it comes to posting bail bonds. The difference between a dismissive or reduced sentence and severe penalties often hinges upon the competency and experience of your dui lawyer or dui defense attorney.

Engaging the expert services of the https://www.newjerseycriminallawattorney.com/dui-drunk-driving/ can thus significantly enhance your chances of a favourable outcome. In addition, you may also want to be more knowledgeable when it comes to DUI laws by reading an online DUI textbook.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving and underage drinking. – See more at: http://www.madd.org/about-us/#sthash.2ygMiBbd.dpuf
Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving and underage drinking. – See more at: http://www.madd.org/about-us/#sthash.2ygMiBbd.dpuf
Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving and underage drinking. – See more at: http://www.madd.org/about-us/#sthash.2ygMiBbd.dpuf

Did you know:

Parents remain the single biggest influence on their teen’s decision to not drink. A GfK Roper Youth Report showed that 74 percent of kids (8-17) said their parents are the leading influence on their decisions about drinking.

Just when you think they’re not listening, parents, they are.  Who else is going to give them the low down and nitty gritty?  Definitely not their peers.  Check out this infographic.  These numbers are shocking!

MADD Power of Parents

Did you see that?

In Texas, parents and teens agree on one key thing – 62 percent of both parents and teens believe it is completely unacceptable to drink before the age of 21.

Here are some other interesting facts:

What parents do and say matters, and some teens may be getting mixed messages.

o   71 percent of teens reported that they were aware of parties where a parent or adult provided teens with alcohol.

o   Yet, only 61 percent of Texas parents said they were aware of such parties.

o   Parents reported that it might be ok for teens to experiment with alcohol for certain occasions:

  • 65 percent of parents said allowing teens to drink at a family gathering such as Thanksgiving was permissible,
  • 49 percent of parents said a New Year’s Eve toast was permissible; and,
  • 47 percent said it was ok for teens to drink as long as they were at home and not driving.

o   A national survey conducted by MADD and Nationwide showed that teens who receive the clear message from their parents that it is completely unacceptable to drink are more than 80 percent less likely to drink than teens who receive other messages.

Join me and may other parents for the one-hour #PowerOfParents Twitter Workshop on August 14 at noon CT/1 p.m. ET to encourage parents to learn how to best start the conversation about alcohol and underage drinking with their teens.

RSVP for the #PowerOfParents Twitter Workshop HERE

Back to school time is the perfect time to reach out to your kids about the dangers of alcohol.  Don’t think that your teen who is driving is the only one you need to be in constant conversation with.  All teens are at risk.  Join us as we learn how to talk with our kids about underage drinking so that you can make the best impression on their lives.

Disclosure:  I am part of a paid campaign on behalf of The Motherhood for MADD Power of Parents.