CHECK THE MIRROR
"Fathers are the single biggest influence on their boys in terms of their values and attitudes," says Dr John Irvine, a child psychologist and expert consultant for Drinkwise, the national research organisation to promote responsible drinking. So check who's in the room the next time you have a laugh about a mate's drunken performance at the footy. And if relaxing always means having a beer in hand, don't wonder why your kids come to see alcohol as an essential part of daily life. Perhaps it's time for a little discretion.

RISK ASSESSMENT

Tossing up whether to impose a blanket booze ban or let your kids have the odd tipple in a bid to make alcohol less of a forbidden thrill? You can always fall back on scientific research to help you decide. The American Medical Association conducted a study comparing the brains of 14- to 21-year-olds who drank alcohol with those who abstained. The scans showed the hippocampus - the area of the brain that handles memory and learning - was about 10 per cent smaller among the drinkers. Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council now advises parents against giving children under 18 even small amounts of alcohol.

PARTY TIME

One day you're going to have to confront your teenager when a bottle goes missing from your liquor cabinet. Just as predictably, they'll insist that everyone else will be drinking at the party they're attending that weekend and that their social status will plummet if they turn up empty-handed.

Not sure what to do? Don't be afraid to speak to other parents to gauge how they're tackling the situation. "Parents need their peer group, too, to reassure them and to know how the rest of the parental tribe feels," says Irvine. "The more parents you can have with a common stance, the clearer the message and the more likelihood of teen compliance."

TALK IT OVER

Whether through peer-group pressure or youthful curiosity, the lure for kids to experiment with alcohol is almost irresistable. One way to combat this is to make your children aware from an early age of the damage caused by early or excessive drinking. "Ask the school's health or personal development department to make the issue a topic in the year 8 or 9 curriculum," advises Irvine. This will open up an opportunity for discussion that you can use to set clear boundaries on alcohol.

Prefer your kids to abstain completely? "Tell them you're not comfortable with them doing something that may damage their chances of having a happy or healthy future," says Irvine.