Parents can feel helpless about their children and alcohol. When it comes to 'what's normal' here are the facts:
- If children do drink alcohol, they shouldn't do so until they're at least 15 years old.
- If 15 to 17 year olds drink alcohol, it should be rarely, and never more than once a week. They should always be supervised by a parent or carer.
- If 15 to 17 year olds drink alcohol, they should never exceed the recommended adult weekly limit (14 units of alcohol). 1 unit of alcohol is about half a pint of normal-strength beer or a single measure (25ml) of spirits. A small glass of wine equals 1.5 units of alcohol. Read more about alcohol units.
- If your child intends to drink alcohol, using positive practices such as incentives for good behaviour, setting limits, agreeing on specific boundaries and offering advice can help.
