Recent research has demonstrated that promoting a dialogue between parents and students on issues such as alcohol use can have a positive effect on young people’s behaviours.   This is supported by evidence that there are two-way influences between adolescents and parents.  

The interactive approach promoted through the proposed information nights reflects this inter-relationship between the alcohol-related attitudes and behaviours of parents and their adolescent children.

Involving parents in Alcohol Information Nights encourages parents and students to work together to explore alcohol issues with a focus on minimising harm. It aims to get parents to look again at the position that they are taking and to alert them to the life situations their child is likely to encounter, regardless of background or belief. Many parents are challenged by the idea that young people may be using alcohol and have questions about when to let students drink, how much, with whom and the dangers involved.

Alcohol Information Nights enable schools to tell parents about their classroom programs, as well as support parents and students to talk about alcohol issues. Also, parents are more likely to support potentially controversial topics like alcohol if they feel informed and understand the issues. Parents are eager to learn ways to better communicate with their children about issues of concern to them and often report that they learn a lot, and especially that their child was rather 'normal'!

Recent research has identified that when parents are aware of their children's attitudes to alcohol and their alcohol consumption patterns, their children tend to drink less and to experience less alcohol-related harm.  Many parents find talking to their teenage children about alcohol issues difficult - but it is important and it can make a real difference.  Alcohol Information Nights are one way to help parents and adolescent children discuss their views and concerns about alcohol in a supportive and structured environment.