Effekt Alcohol Programme Second meeting A joint project delivered by Brighton & Hove City Council, in partnership with Mentor UK & OPP/Orebro Universtet, Dorothy Stringer & Varndean schools Welcome: thanks for giving us your time. We are here to talk about working together to keep teenagers safe with a focus on alcohol This is our second session and we will be able to review what we did in ( insert date SEPTEMBER) January 2015

You are important! Explain why – you can make a difference to young peoples drinking and prevent them starting to drink young or drinking to harmful sessions. This isn't about your parenting skills = we are hear to show how working together helps protect your young people and influences their decision making.

You can influence your child’s drinking more than you realise Reasons why we are concerned Impact alcohol has on brain development / cognitive development – this is a fact If you drink too much, young people are more likely to make rash decisions and are more at risk of becoming involved in violence, unprotected / unwanted sex, ,or are likely to try things they wouldn’t at other times such as drugs and legal highs – bow to peer pressure. Ensure the safety of our children when out with friends. Risks and presenting at A and E – local data

You can take a Restrictive approach or a Permissive approach We are using the language used in research to explain parent behaviours and the influence they have. A restrictive approach to parenting in this instance would mean telling your child that you don’t want them to drink alcohol until they are 18 and not providing alcohol for them. A permissive approach would include those who don’t talk with their children about alcohol, those that give children alcohol either with family meals or to take to parties and who do not express concern if their child drinks under the age of 18.

1 of 20 parents with 14 year-olds Let’s remind ourselves of the research. Number of parents with 14 year-olds who have a permissive approach to underage drinking

11 of 20 parents with 17 year-olds As you can see evidence shows parents become more permissive as the age of the young person increases and more young people drink Number of parents with 17 year-olds who have a permissive approach to underage drinking

Permissive parents/carers - 21 in 30 pupils 15 years old In a class where all parents had a permissive approach research found that 21 of 30 15 year olds have been drunk more than 4 times in the past term. Number of 15 year-olds who have permissive parents/carers and report being drunk more than 4 times during the past term

Restrictive parents/carers - 6 in 30 pupils 15 years old When we see a class where all parents are restrictive – only 6 report getting drunk. The research has confirmed that young people whilst being influenced by their peers will also not risk a ‘real sanction’ laid down by their parent if it is one that they want to avoid and know it will happen. Number of 15 year-olds who have restrictive parents/carers and report being drunk more than 4 times during the past term

Parent/carer approach makes a significant difference

Be clear! Children don’t do as you do, they do as you say! The message therefore needs to be that alcohol is not for children (because of damage it can do and risk taking behaviour it can lead to).

Children whose parents/carers offer them alcohol drink more than other children

Don’t offer your child alcohol. You’re teaching them to like it. Research has confirmed that even by giving small ‘sips’ / tastes of your wine / beer, they become accustomed to the taste.

Talk to your child about alcohol - it’s worth it Explain with warmth that it isn’t ok to drink alcohol below the age of 18 Its not just the drinking it’s the environment in which you drink and keep yourself safe and adults make different choices.

too late … it’s never Key message: Research shows that even if you change your attitude to your child’s drinking now, there is a positive impact – so young peoples drinking patterns can change.

Agree among yourselves – it helps There is strength in a uniformed approach – this is the basis of this program. There are not many opportunities to come together and agree how you will respond collectively and at (insert school) Varndean we want to help facilitate this.

How could you approach the following scenarios? So we want tp provide you with real scenarios to look at how you may work together.

Your child comes home drunk and vomits on the carpet Your partner wants your child to have alcohol and you don’t Your child is 14 and invited to a party where there will be alcohol Choose one of these scenarios and discuss with the people near you how you would respond having had this talk. Very brief feedback.

Show that you are interested! Three questions you can ask your child

What do you and your friends think about alcohol? Do you know why there is an age limit for buying alcohol? What do you do when you are offered a drink? Sam and Kerry These are the questions from the first set of slides. I’m not sure if we changed them from the original translation. Effekt questions are on the next slide. Please decide which one you want to go with and delete the other.

To summarise: You influence your child’s drinking more than you realise Be clear – a restrictive approach makes a significant difference Don’t offer your child alcohol Your child appreciates clear guidance Talk to your child

More information for parents/carers School policies www.varndean.co.uk www.dorothy-stringer.co.uk Parenting team www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/parentingteam Early Help – http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/children-and-education/childrens-services/early-help Ru-ok – young people’s substance misuse service www.areyouok.org.uk/ Drug and alcohol services in the city www.thinkdrinkdrugs.co.uk Frank Website www.talktofrank.com More about Effekt www.effekt.org