What are the top tips for having an effective conversation?

• Be approachable. The fact that your daughter may be asking about alcohol does not mean that she is drinking.  Keep an open mind and try not to overreact during the discussion. 
• Keep your conversation real and personal. Seize opportunities to discuss real life situations and consequences - examples from the news or experiences of people you know.
• Be a parent, not a friend. Share your parental values and set the rules.  Make it clear that underage drinking is not okay under any circumstances.
• Discuss all the risks of underage drinking, and not just those that are associated with drunk driving.  Consider that girls are three times more likely than their mothers to believe underage drinking is okay under adult supervision away from home as long as you don’t drive.
• Supervise your daughter and know who her friends are, where they are going and what they are doing - encourage her to maintain friendships with other girls who make good choices and decisions.  Over half of moms and daughters report the top reason that teens choose not to drink is because their friends don’t drink.