What can be done in the home to control underage access to alcohol?

Plan and host responsible parties
Parties can provide an opportunity for young people to experiment with alcohol. As the host of a party, you are responsible for the wellbeing of your guests. Should you decide to allow young people to drink at your party, it is important that you are aware of the risks involved and your legal responsibilities.

While you might not be able to eliminate all possible problems that may arise, a few simple actions can minimise the risk of problems occurring.

For further information on how to plan and host a responsible party go to:

- Your party, your responsibility – let’s get it right
- Hosting A Party For Your Teenager

Change how we drink and behave in front of our children
Children draw conclusions about how to behave in relation to alcohol from what they see and hear about alcohol in their families and communities. So it is important to demonstrate responsible drinking behaviour when around children. Some suggestions include:

• Drink moderately
• Don't drink every time you socialise or are experiencing problems
• Never drink and drive
• Don’t tell your children stories about your own drinking in a way that suggests that excessive alcohol use is funny or glamorous.

Store alcohol safely
Keeping alcohol in a safe and secure place can prevent young people accessing alcohol from home without your knowledge.

Communicate with your children
Young people are much more likely to delay drinking when they feel they have a close, supportive relationship with a parent or caregiver. Whether your child chooses to use alcohol or not, they are often exposed to the issue of alcohol use through friends, peers and the media. Although you cannot control other sources of information, you can still positively influence your child in their decision making, simply by communicating with them openly about alcohol use.