Balance North East – What’s the harm?
Every parent and carer wants to do the right thing for their children. With the summer upon us, parents and carers are encouraged not to add alcohol to the mix to protect children from risk. The law is clear that buying alcohol under 18 or selling it to children under 18 is illegal.
Evidence is clear now that introducing children to alcohol, especially before 15 can:
- harm developing bodies and brains
- worsen any feelings of low mood or depression
- put their safety at risk
- open the door to more regular teenage drinking and heavier drinking as adults
Parenting can be challenging: What’s the Harm supports parents and carers to have positive, informed conversations about alcohol and to question the idea that drinking is a necessary “rite of passage”. Information for parents and a FREE GUIDE about talking to children about alcohol is available at What’s the Harm?
For support for young people within Northumberland in relation to substances, Sorted are the Drug and Alcohol Service and can provide education, advice and 1:1 support. For more information, please visit Sorted
