18/07/2026
There's a popular liberal approach to alcohol and underage drinking...Before I became a counsellor, and when I was a parent of young men, I helped my children make informed choices around underage drinking by explaining the impact of alcohol on their young bodies and brains. My approach wasn't popular with other parents who saw themselves as more liberal and thought it was funny when their children were tipsy. It alarmed me that they didn't appear to understand that they were actively encouraging their children to take a legal drug that is harmful. My opinion isn't about judgement, it's from lived experience and a developed awareness and why I'm sharing this post.
👨🏼👩🏼👧 Young Brains, Bigger Risks: Understanding Alcohol’s Impact on Children and Teens👨🏼👩🏼👧🏼👧
When it comes to alcohol, young people aren't just "small adults". Their brains and bodies are still developing, which means alcohol can have a bigger impact on them than it does on older adults. In fact, important parts of the brain continue to develop well into a person's mid 20s‼️So, the teenage years are a crucial time for brain development. 🧠
The brain is building skills needed for learning, planning, memory and managing emotions. Alcohol can interfere with these processes and may affect how the brain develops over time. Some young people who drink heavily experience problems with memory, concentration and learning. Young people who drink are also at greater risk of experiencing mental health difficulties. ☹️
⚠️ Teenagers are naturally more likely to take risks as they grow up and become more independent. Alcohol can affect judgement, coordination and reaction times, increasing the chances of accidents, injuries and other risky situations. Alcohol related falls, assaults and road traffic incidents are all more common when alcohol is involved.
✔️The good news is that the longer a young person delays drinking alcohol, the better. Waiting until they're older helps protect their developing brain and reduces the risk of alcohol related problems later in life.
💜Research shows that young people who start drinking at an earlier age are more likely to develop unhealthy drinking habits as adults. Supporting children and young people to make informed choices about alcohol can help them stay healthy, do well in school and reach their full potential 💜
If you're concerned about a young person's alcohol use:
📞 01773 303646
📧 [email protected]
Or if you're concerned about your drinking impacting a young person:
📞 01246 277422
🌐 service.actionforchildren.org.uk/derbyshire/space-4-u/
📧 [email protected]
👨👩👧👦 Young people are our future. We must and remember support is available county wide across Derbyshire during and beyond 🪁
