As per the findings of a new research talking to kids about alcohol in the hope of helping them develop responsible drinking habits doe not really work.

Parents can however take heart that they can influence the amount that their adolescents drink through discipline, limiting the availability of alcohol and fostering a good relationship with their children.

The research was published in the latest Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry which aimed at identifying parenting strategies following new guidelines introduced in the UK and Australia on alcohol consumption by people who were under the age of 18.

The guidelines are similar in both the nations and say that adolescents under 15 years of age should not consume alcohol and those between the ages of 15-17 should delay drinking for as long as possible. In addition to this the guidelines also say that what they do drink should be at low-risk levels in a safe environment supervised by adults.

Researchers from Melbourne University’s Youth Mental Health Centre conducted the research on the most effective parenting strategies for dealing with adolescent alcohol consumption.