A Guide for Parents of First-Year College Students

The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control developed this booklet to help parents talk with their college-age son or daughter about drinking. The booklet is packed with current information to arm parents with the knowledge they need to address drinking in the lives of their first-year student. Parents will learn about alcohol regulations, penalties, dangers, and intervention techniques related to the campus environment. While the booklet focuses on laws and statistics specific to the state of Virginia, parents nationwide will benefit from information on techniques and discussion points found throughout the publication. Brief descriptions of parental notification, setting the normative environment, expectations, and career consequences are also discussed. Helpful resources for parents and their first-year student are listed to aid parents looking for additional information.