• Peer pressure can lead teenagers to drink alcohol.beer and bottle image by Allen Pinkall from Fotolia.com
  
  The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, or NIAAA, reports that every year 5,000 individuals under the age of 21 lose their lives in alcohol-related deaths. Furthermore, in 2003 the institute found that the average age for first time alcohol use was 14. Parents who understand the reasons underage children choose to drink can help their children make good choices and avoid alcohol.
  
  

Puberty

• Puberty causes a number of physical and emotional changes as children mature into teenagers and young adults. These changes, which can include mood swings and insecurity, often lead teens to drink. Puberty also is associated with an increase in risk-taking behaviors. Talk to your child about the physical and emotional changes he is undergoing, and let him know that they are normal and temporary. Help your child find constructive ways to handle mood swings or insecurities and initiate open communication. Regular exercise and a healthy diet can make the changes that come with puberty easier to manage.
  
  

Peer Pressure

• The teen years are a time of insecurity. Many teens lack self confidence and desire acceptance from peers. Consequently, teenagers find it difficult to make choices that will exclude them from a particular group of students.Talk to your child about peer pressure and how to say "no" when offered alcohol. Build your child's self esteem through praise and open communication, and provide plenty of opportunities for your child to excel. Extra curricular activities, such as piano lessons or horseback riding, not only raise self-confidence, they also keep children involved in constructive activities.
  
  

Influences

• The NIAAA reports that children and teens with positive views of alcohol are more likely to drink than those with a negative attitude. Children's attitudes toward alcohol are often based upon their parents' drinking habits. Model a healthy relationship with alcohol by drinking safely and in moderation, and help your children understand that alcohol is not necessary to have a good time.
  
  

Alcohol Tolerance

• The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that teens and youth experience the effects of alcohol differently than adults do. Ongoing brain development allows teens to experience the enjoyable effects of alcohol at a higher level, while avoiding many of the negative consequences, such as hangover or tiredness that lead many to avoid drinking.