How to Talk to Your Teen About Drinking (Advice From MADD)

The thought of your teen making a life-altering mistake because of alcohol is terrifying. Whether they're not driving yet or already have their license, the conversations you have now can make a real difference.

👉 Want your teen to call you instead of hiding it? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn how to talk about drinking without lectures, stay calm when they find out something worrying, and build the trust that keeps teens safer. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit down with Stacey D. Stewart, CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), to talk about underage drinking and impaired driving, and the role parents play in keeping teens safe. Stacey shares why parents are still the most influential adults in a teen's life, how to start these conversations early, and why making a safe-ride plan ahead of time works better than hoping your teen will think clearly in the moment.

If you're worried about your teen's alcohol or substance use, the SAMHSA National Helpline is free, confidential, and open 24/7 at 1-800-662-4357.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

• How to start the conversation about drinking as early as elementary or middle school
• Why both strict and hands-off approaches tend to backfire, and what works better
• What to do when you find out your teen has been drinking
• How to make a safe-ride plan together before your teen goes out
• Why mixing alcohol and cannabis is a growing risk, and why driving high isn't safe
• How your own drinking habits shape your teen's choices

EPISODE CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Why preventing teen drinking matters
• 03:39 The gap between what teens know and what they do
• 06:34 Starting the conversation early
• 11:31 When you find out your teen has been drinking
• 18:39 Making a safe-ride plan together
• 26:27 Modeling healthy habits and addressing mental health

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• MADD's Power of Parents handbook
• SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357

CONNECT WITH MADD

• Website: MADD.org
• Instagram: @MADDNational
• TikTok: @MADDNational
• X: @MADDOnline
• Facebook: MADD
• YouTube: MADD

CONNECT WITH DR. CAM CASWELL

• Website: AskDrCam.com
• Instagram: @DrCamCaswell
• Parenting Teens Academy

ABOUT THE SHOW

Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam is hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach. Each episode gives you practical strategies, expert advice, and real-world insight to build a stronger relationship with your teen.

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