Dealing with alcohol related peer pressure
Although we usually see it in a negative light, peer pressure may be a positive influence and help to challenge or motivate us to do our best. Unfortunately, it may also result in kids doing stuff that may not fit with their sense of what is right and wrong.
It is not uncommon to want to be part of a group and feel like we belong in our community. Peer pressure can happen when we are influenced to do something we usually would not do, or it can stop us from doing something we would like to do. This may be because we want to be accepted by our peers. Unfortunately, the pressure from peers in regards to alcohol does increase with age as young people struggle to identify where they fit in a world where alcohol appears to play such an important role.
The best protection from peer pressure is a strong and loving relationship with your teenager. That provides the standard, the security and the role models to help them through. If you do find yourself pitched against peers, there’s every chance you can come off second best unless you handle it well.
As important as peer pressure is, we cannot underestimate the impact of other social pressures. As much as we would hope it wasn’t the case, our kids’ attitudes to alcohol are heavily influenced by the power of advertising and marketing, the role of alcohol in sport and of course, celebrities behaving badly.
For practical strategies and expert advice select relevant age group below.