What to do if your partner thinks it's fine for your child to drink and you don't
We know that parents can make a real difference when it comes to alcohol consumption. Most importantly, they must provide a consistent message on the issue. If a young person gets mixed messages from his their parents then it’s going to be far more difficult for him/her to develop positive attitudes towards alcohol.
Parents must work out the rules and boundaries they think are appropriate, as well as the consequences if these are broken. It is important that once the rules and boundaries are agreed on, that neither party ‘gives in’. If there are differences of opinion regarding the provision of alcohol, these differences and each parent’s expectations should be openly discussed, without placing the child in the position of conflict.
In broken relationships this may be even more difficult as parents may be reluctant to enforce rules with their child fearing that this may jeopardise the relationship. As much as you may want your child to be your ‘best friend’, it is far more important to be a parent. Remember, your child gets one set of parents; they will get the opportunity to make many friends. There are many other ways of maintaining a positive relationship with a child rather than ‘giving in’ and providing them alcohol.
For practical strategies and expert advice select relevant age group below.