Dear Agony Bunny,
My 17-year-old daughter keeps binge drinking at the weekends to the point where she’s often sick. All her friends are doing the same, like it’s some kind of trend, and it’s driving me crazy with worry. I’ve spoken to some of her friends’ mothers and they’re as desperate as me. Every time she’s ill, I give her a huge telling off and she promises she’ll never do it again. But a few weeks later she does. What can I do?
--- Name withheld on request
Dear friend,
Firstly, she shouldn’t be drinking at all because at 17 it’s illegal. But I know that kids do this sort of thing. When I was 18 or 19, I went out five nights a week until all hours. I didn’t binge drink but I would have a few drinks. It soon got boring and tiring and hopefully your daughter will become bored of drinking too much and grow out of it. In the meantime, spell out the dangers to her. As well as the health implications, she could be putting her safety at risk Young girls tend to lose all sense of fear when they’re drunk and can get in taxis on their own or decide to walk home alone. Explain to her these fears and tell her to stick with her friends at all times and call you if there’s anything she needs. Teens think their parents try to spoil their fun, but you must tell her you love her and you don’t want her drinking herself silly each weekend.
