MONROE — Green County Public Health is partnering with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to release detailed tips and tools as part of Small Talks, a campaign to prevent underage drinking in Green County. This effort encourages adults to have short, casual conversations with kids frequently, starting at age 8 on the dangers of drinking alcohol before the age of 21.

April is Alcohol Awareness month, this is a great time for parents or guardians to have a Small Talk with their kids. This is an important topic for all of us in the state of Wisconsin and in Green County. Wisconsinites engage in binge drinking at a higher rate than the national average, and according to Wisconsin Department of Health Services data from 2014-2019, about 28% of Green County adults had engaged in binge drinking in the past month. This is one of the higher percentages across the state. Having Small Talks with kids can help prevent underage drinking, and educate kids about moderate alcohol use for when they grow up.

“We heard from parents that having these small talks was great, but that they needed a little more help with some of their kids’ toughest questions,” said RoAnn Warden, Health Officer and Director. “When you explain to kids that drinking can be harmful, it’s natural for them to ask why adults sometimes drinks alcohol. And as a parent, it can be a tricky to know how to respond. We wanted to provide parents with answers to the hard questions they may receive.”

In addition to providing common questions and answers, these materials provide guidance on how to teach kids to say “no” to alcohol in peer-pressure situations.

Visit the Small Talks campaign website — SmallTalksWI.org — for underage drinking talk facts, tips, and more. Share your small talks moments on social media using #SmallTalksWI.

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