Transitioning to college gives students the chance to explore life more independently. But, the new independence combined with the need to fit in may lead them to engage in alcohol use. In addition, being new to drinking means students are at risk of alcohol overconsumption.
There is a statistical difference in alcoholism by age group, with roughly 20% of college-age students meeting the criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). As a parent of college-age children, you have the chance to talk to your student about safe drinking.
Prepare for the conversation
Researching the topic beforehand is a great way to prepare for the conversation. Then, choose a good time to have the conversation. It is best to have it when you are relaxed and have no other commitments.
Plan to have an open, interactive conversation. Openness involves listening and talking in a non-judgmental and non-defensive way. When the discussion is open, you can understand each other’s perspectives.
Emphasize personal responsibility
During the conversation, emphasize your student’s personal responsibility for the choices they make and the actions they take. Let them know that their decisions have outcomes. Emphasizing your child’s personal responsibility will promote good decision-making.
For example, they will know that drinking to deal with stress is not the best idea. Instead, the student will understand that there are better and healthier ways to cope with stress.
Talk about the law on alcohol use
Remind your college-age student that consuming alcohol while under 21 years is illegal. It may also be against campus regulations. Breaking the law and campus regulations can have severe repercussions. Let your student know that you are against violating the law.
As you talk about the legal drinking age, also delve into drunk driving. Remind your student that drunk driving is illegal and mention its consequences.
Inform them that they can use a designated driver, safe ride program, or taxi service instead of driving drunk. Or, they could stay overnight at the location if it is safe.
Encourage situational awareness
Inform your student to always be aware of their drinking environment. When the drinking environment is risky, they should reduce their alcohol consumption.
Teach your child not to leave their drink unattended or take drinks from unknown persons. Also, teach the student to have a system where they and their friends look out for each other. The system will help them:
- Intervene if someone is too drunk
- Ensure everyone gets home safely
- Get help in case of an emergency, e.g., alcohol poisoning
Stay in touch
Talking to your student is not a one-time event. Check-in with them frequently, particularly during the first six weeks of the semester. A study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism shows that students are vulnerable to harmful drinking and its consequences during this time. They are vulnerable because of increased social pressure at the beginning of the semester.
Wrapping up
The fact that it’s illegal for many college students to drink is not a deterrent. It’s the role of parents to talk to their students about safe alcohol consumption.