If you have children then you know that there will come a day when they will need to know about alcohol. When you start those discussions is up to you. Some say to start as soon as they are old enough to understand drinking in general, which can be as early as 7 or 8 years old. Others think it’s better to wait until they are in their teen years and will be faced with these issues.

There is a lot to consider when making this decision about what age to start teaching them. Starting too early can have serious repercussions. If you start too early then you may be inviting trouble. A 7 or 8 year old may not truly understand what you are trying to tell them. By telling them about something that they are too young to understand you may be opening them up to something they may not have thought of getting into previously. Talking about drinking can create a curiosity about alcohol instead of fear or understanding. You may find your children wanting to try drinking instead of heeding your advice.

It may be best to touch softly on the subject when your children are younger without opening them up to much curiosity. Then once they are pre-teens you can take the time to have a more thorough discussion and answer any questions they may have regarding drinking. Many will tell you that it’s never too early to start talking about drinking, but it is possible to do it too early.

Teaching your children is a constant learning curve for parents everywhere. You should never feel that you are alone when making these decisions. There are hundreds of websites where you can get information from other parents that have been exactly where you are now.Can’t get enough? There’s more: Children More Likely to Drink and Drive if Parents Drink