Research indicates that parents continue to have significant influence over the attitudes and behaviors of their college-age children. Parents must communicate their expectations about alcohol use in college, assist others in correcting misperceptions about college alcohol norms and myths, and serve as positive role models in the moderate use of alcohol, especially as a source of entertainment or stress relief. Most importantly, parents must see themselves as an essential partner in the college experience, allowing a student to mature through increased personal responsibility and independent decision-making, but also coaching a student toward the moderate use of alcohol, and helping students find resources to help when needed. Below are a few key resources parents can use to know more about alcohol use in college and to connect to assistance at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The NIAAA Task Force Report on College Drinking: What Parents Can Do is a web site based on the nation's most comprehensive study and report on college alcohol use. You'll find many helpful resources here to learn more about alcohol use and about the role of parents.

Learn how you can coach your son or daughter to success: The Power of Parenting Brochure from UNL

Parents can make a difference in Birthday celebrations! The UNL Parents Association offers some great information and advice to help parents understand the dangerous rituals and traditions that surround birthdays in college, and offer some great advice on how to help your son or daughter celebrate successfully and safely.

Check out the "Birthday" Page on NUtodo.com!

Responsible Birthday Celebrations: A Guide for Hospitality Establishments is the result of a project created by a marketing campaigns class at UNL, where students researched and designed low-risk specials that were attractive to students who are looking for an alternative to the "birthday bar crawl." When students "crawl," bars lose out by increasing their risk of citations for service to intoxicated patrons and by limiting the time spent before moving on to another bar. The guide is filled with practical ways to create fun and profitable birthday celebrations for the thousands of UNL students who will become legal drinkers during their stay in Lincoln.

Additional Resources on Campus

Links to Other National Resources