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Alcohol and kids. It’s a combination that frightens every parent. Your natural instinct is to protect your children from life’s dangers and potential risks. But you can’t always be there when your kids are faced with tough decisions—and saying no to alcohol is one of the toughest decisions kids have to make. The pressure to drink can be enormous. So how can you be sure your child will make the wise, safe and godly choice?

As difficult as it is for parents to imagine a child taking a drink, it’s essential that we understand how real a problem alcohol is among young people, even young Christians. Surprisingly, statistics show that many Christian kids experiment with alcohol in much the same way as their non-Christian peers. A recent survey conducted by Josh McDowell Ministries found that more than 12 percent of church-going kids ages 11-19 admitted to being drunk at least once.

Libby, a mother of preteens who was raised in a churchgoing home, recalls drinking heavily when she was in high school and college.

"I’m not really sure why I did. All of the kids were doing it, even the church group," she remembers. "My parents never said anything; I don’t think they realized I was drinking."

Libby says her parents didn’t discuss alcohol with her. "I wish they had. I would at least have had a value or a moral context placed on drinking. Instead, I knew drinking at my age was against the law, but I never felt guilty about it. I look back and feel such remorse about the danger I put myself and others in by driving and drinking."

Libby’s story is not unique, except that today’s kids aren’t waiting until high school to start drinking. The American Academy of Pediatrics released a study that revealed some startling statistics: One out of four fourth graders has already experienced alcohol intoxication. And the chance for addiction greatly increases when experimentation with alcohol starts prior to adolescence.

Alcohol remains the drug of choice among all teenagers, and the drug most associated with risky behavior—drunk driving, teen pregnancy, suicide and violence.

Despite the frightening statistics, parents are not powerless to keep their kids away from alcohol. In fact, early parental intervention is one of the key factors in helping kids resist the temptation to drink. That means taking the time to talk to your children early and often about the risks of drinking. The more your children know about this potent drug, the better.

One of the biggest mistakes parents make is to assume their children will never use drugs or alcohol. According to a report from the Adult Adolescent Substance Program (AASP), parents "ignore all the warning signs and then are shocked when they receive a phone call from the school, police or another parent."

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