Dealing With Peer Pressure and Alcohol

Being a parent means standing strong when setting limitations for your child.
Those limitations can be tested when your child experiences dealing with peer pressure and alcohol.
Model the behavior that you expect your child to follow.
Then, when he deals with a situation that requires an answer of "no," he will be able to handle both the silent and verbal pressure to follow the crowd.

Practice Positively Life is filled with choices.

Sometimes, those choices are hard to make.

Standing firm and enforcing beliefs are difficult tasks for some young people.
Reasons vary from person to person, but most involve alienation from the in crowd, fear of ridicule or uncertainty about the situation. Help your child practice positive resistance to peer pressure so instead of just talking the talk, he can also the walk.
Brainstorm strategies for handling different situations.
Remind your child to stand up straight and make eye contact with the person confronting him.
Teach him to explain how he feels without making excuses, to stick up for his beliefs.

It's About Saying "No" If somebody tries to convince your child to drink, he needs to learn that the best way to resist is simply to walk away from the situation.

If there is continued pressure to conform, saying "no" assertively is a good first step.

Living an alcohol-free lifestyle will also send a message to peers. Teach your child to have a back-up plan if the party he's going to suddenly involves alcohol. Having an escape hatch will build confidence.

Teach him to avoid poor speaking habits, such as mumbling a reply or avoiding eye contact.

Your child's confidence will gain his peers' respect. The Silent Treatment Unspoken pressure is difficult to resist. Silent peer pressure is difficult to address because it focuses on internal feelings instead of a verbal or physical response.

Wanting to belong to a group or fit in is a normal part of growing up.

But when the group mind overpowers and forces your child to change his beliefs, it is time for him to stand up for himself.