Parental attention is the best way to prevent teen binge drinking, according to a thesis from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. But, boys and girls differ in what form of attention works best, says the thesis’ author, Anna-Karin Danielsson. Girls need close, loving relationships with their parents while boys usually require parents who keep tabs on where they are and who they are with.
Danielsson studied 1,200 kids ranging in age from 13 to 19, according to Science Daily. Kids showing warning signs of risky behavior were less likely to engage in binge drinking after their parents intervened.