Drugs & alcohol
You can’t keep a tab on what your child is up to 24/7 but some teenagers will begin experimenting with alcohol and drugs and this is often interlinked with sexual behaviour.
The best thing you can do is chat openly with them about the issues that they might face, including peer pressure to experiment, and possible risks. They will make their own decision but you can give them all the facts they need and the confidence to make a decision that is right for them.
If you want more tips on talking about alchol, visit: whyletdrinkdecide.direct.gov.uk
Top tips for talking to teens about drinking and sex:
The first time and alcohol
Having sex for the first time can be scary but we all hope it will be special for our children. If they need to drink for courage – maybe because they are scared – the chances are that they’re not ready to have sex. You can chat to your teenager about this to make sure they are confident enough to say no if put under pressure and they’re happy to wait until THEY are ready.
It’s also important to ensure that young people know it is not right to force someone else into having sex and that if they loved and respected the person they are with, they would wait until they’re ready.
We have lots of information and advice for young people on this topic. To read more or tell your child about the pages, click here.
Consent and rape
It’s important to talk to your son or daughter about consent. Young people should feel they are ready to have a sexual relationship before starting one but also that they are confident that the person they choose to have sex with also wants it.
This is why you should teach them from a very early age about the “safe space” around each person and that it is wrong for anyone to enter that space in any way, without permission.
Consent is when they and their partner agree to have sex and no one is forcing or pressuring them. People can also be incapable of giving consent if they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol and don’t fully understand what is happening to them. If someone has any type of sex without consent then they are committing a serious sexual offence which will result in serious consequences.
Condoms and alcohol
Only condoms stop HIV, Chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections, as well as protecting against pregnancy. Try and encourage your child to act responsibly, for their sake as well as the person they have sex with, by always carrying a condom. They can get these for free if they are under 20 through the 4YP Bristol C-card scheme.
Staying in control
Being drunk or under the influence of alcohol or drugs has a big effect on young people’s ability to make decisions and many young people say they had sex while they were drunk and then regretted it afterwards.
For boys and girls it’s important to tell them that, even if alcohol makes them feel more confident and sexy, the risks of making decisions while drunk are as big as getting infections and having an unwanted pregnancy.
