Keep their future bright - reducing the risks of underage drinking

The Keep Their Future Bright campaign has launched in South Australia by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, encouraging parents to have open, honest conversations with their children about the risks of underage drinking. It provides parents with resources and guidance to have these conversations, with the goal of reducing parental supply to children under 18 years.

In 2022-2023 the Australian Secondary Schools’ Alcohol and Drug Survey found that 69.5% of South Australian teenagers aged 12-17 years have tried alcohol, mainly supplied by parents or siblings.

It has been shown that alcohol consumption in young people can affect the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which controls behaviour, emotions and decision-making ability. Even small amounts of alcohol can harm the growing teenage brain and may increase the risk of future dependency in adulthood.

An independent evaluation found the national campaign positively shifted parents’ attitudes on when to supply alcohol at home, raising the median age from 17 to 18 after seeing the campaign.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Alcohol Guidelines recommend alcohol is not consumed by children under 18 years old.

This is an initiative funded by Preventive Health SA and aligns with the South Australian Alcohol and Other Drug Strategy 2025 – 2030 commitment to reduce the harms caused by alcohol and other drugs within the South Australian community.

To learn more, visit www.adf.org.au/teens