Alcohol and Youth

Depending upon the age of your children, you may put different measures in place when storing alcohol. Read more information on how to secure your medications at home. 

In Ontario, the legal age to buy or drink in a public location is 19 years of age. As a parent you may offer your own teen alcohol in your home, remember there can be health effects from using alcohol, more so for youth because of their developing brains. 

Your youth may ask you to if they can have friends over to drink. There are many things to keep in mind when agreeing to host, one of them being liability. Parents could be held responsible, investigated and charged for allowing underaged drinking in their home. To learn more visit: Having a party | CAMH

Be clear about your feelings and what you expect.

• Talk openly with them and try to understand how much, where and when they are drinking.

Talk about safer use of alcohol.

Talk about drinking in a safer place under parental guidance and at lower levels (ie. 1-2 standard drinks just once or twice per week). See Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health 2022 for more information.

Talk about having an exit strategy if they are at a party and feel uncomfortable

For more tips on talking about substance use, check out: Have THAT talk About Substance Use Health

Drinking a lot of alcohol in a short amount of time can make it hard for a person to think clearly and make decisions. It can cause a person to get angry and fight, or it can put someone at risk for alcohol overdose also known as alcohol poisoning, which can cause death. Overtime, binge drinking can lead to physical, emotional, mental, and social problems. 

Alcohol Overdose

Drinking a large amount of alcohol in a short time can lead to alcohol overdose. If you see a person showing these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately and put the person in the recovery position:

• Blue/grey, cold, clammy skin.
• Vomiting and not waking up.
• Not moving, cannot be woken up.
• Slowed breathing.
• Loss of bladder and bowel control.

Get informed first. Ask them what they know; talk about the effects of drinking or substance (drug) use, it is important to listen to their thoughts. Be clear about rules; tell them what you expect from them, even if you are not sure they will listen. Talk about family rules and what happens if those rules are broken.  

Check out these great resources: Tips for talking about Substance Use, Youth Resources in Ottawa, Party Safer, and Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.

• Make them feel at ease.
  • Spend quality time together and find out where your teen is going and with whom.
• Get to know their friends.
  •  Talk with their friends’ parents if they spend a lot of their time at their homes.

• Be a role model – Reflect on your own attitudes and behaviours related to substance use health, they can have an impact on your children.
• Keep talking to them, don't wait! By grade 9, most students have opinions about alcohol.
• Help your youth delay drinking until they are older.

                    Fact: Across Ontario youth are waiting longer before they try alcohol.

• Know the laws and restrictions for young new drivers.

If you are  questioning your relationship with alcohol or other substances, talk with your health care provider or visit  the Mental Health and Substance Use Resource List in Ottawa.

Learn more about building resiliency and how to have THAT talk about mental health and substance use health.