So what can you do to keep your child from drinking?

Here are some tips on how to talk to your child about alcohol.

• Start talking about your rules of "no use" early on. Don't wait until your child is a teen or even a pre-teen to discuss alcohol use and its potential harm. And don't assume your child already knows your feelings about the subject, especially if you occasionally indulge in a glass of wine or can of beer. Studies show that children who hear their parents state the rule of "no use" are 42% less likely to drink alcohol as teens than those who do not hear it.

• Talk to your children about what is expected of them. Children are more afraid of losing the respect and pride of a parent than acting out against them. Don't just make an opportunity to talk to your child about alcohol and drugs. Use everyday opportunities and make the conversation part of your life. Children are more likely to bring up the subject themselves if you make the conversation easy such as over dinner, riding in the car, cleaning the kitchen, instead of making "the talk" a big deal.

• Use what is happening in the community to discuss the problem. If a teenager has been in an accident or there is news of an alcohol related situation in the news, use that opportunity to discuss the consequences with your child. Tell them how you'd feel if the situation was happening to them. They may roll their eyes or give you a standard, "I know all that," answer. However, every time you discuss it, a little more will sink in.

• Don't criticize if your child doesn't seem to take the conversation seriously. Children sometimes mask their feelings by changing the subject or making light of a situation. It's probably affected them more than you think.

• Don't yell if your child gets defensive. Everyone knows that adolescents can have quick tongues and it's easy for them to say the wrong thing leaving a parent wanting to issue a reprimand. There's a lot going on in your teenager's head and they can only absorb so much at a time. You'll have the opportunity to revisit the subject again as long as you keep the lines of communication open. How you react the first time will dictate how comfortable your teenager will feel coming to you on his or her own.