Is it OK to let my teen have a sip of a drink?
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QUESTION
Here's something that happens a lot. At family gatherings, Christmas, Thanksgiving - often times my relatives will offer my kids a sip of their drink. Is that OK?
ANSWER
- A single drink at a special occasion may be OK.
- It is never okay to supply alcohol for teenagers to drink on their own.
- Research shows that in the developing brain even small exposure to alcohol can create problems.
- The safest approach is to make them wait till they are 21 years old.
Here are some common questions parents have about how to keep their teen-aged children safe from alcohol and drug use. Click each link to watch a video on each topic with adolescent substance abuse expert Dr. John Knight.
