The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is hoping to impact thousands of Pennsylvania families through its new public awareness campaign. 

Know When. Know How. is an effort to combat the lack of alcohol education resources for parents in Pennsylvania. The campaign is designed to make it easier for parents to start conversations with their children about alcohol use. The PLCB believes that parents are the key to reducing the number of children who are drinking underage. 

“Parents can play a critical role in educating their children on how to make decisions that lead to a safe and healthy life from a young age,” said Ellen DiDomenico, the acting deputy secretary for the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.

Parents also feel the need to educate their children about alcohol. 

“Ninety-four percent of parents believe it is their responsibility to talk to their children about alcohol. However, most parents are not familiar with the facts about underage drinking, the long-term effects alcohol can have on kids, the penalties for underage drinking, or when underage children start drinking,” according to a statewide survey conducted by the PLCB.

This is where the Know When. Know How. Campaign comes in. 

Know When. Know How. gives parents access to up-to-date, easy to understand and meaningful information about the effects of alcohol. 

“Just like with kids, parents will best benefit from information that is factual, easily accessible, and practical so that it empowers them to make parenting choices,” said sociology professor Allison Carey.

Parents will be able to effectively educate their children with Know When. Know How. The campaign was designed with parents of children, specifically those ages eight through twelve, in mind.

Although it may seem unconventional, alcohol education needs to start at a young age. 

“Programs for kids 8-12 may sound really early, but at that age, kids are already noticing things like how alcohol is treated differently than other beverages, and their parents have certain attitudes toward alcohol,” Carey said.

“Ages 8-12 is the dominant place where most children are learning their values,”  Casey said. “Early adolescence is the time to teach children to make good choices later in life. The support and education needs to come from multiple channels,”

Children are more likely to absorb and implement the information when it is presented through various mediums and outlets, according to Carey. 

“If doctors, schools, and parents are sending consistent messages, this increases the value of the message,” Carey said.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) regulates the distribution of beverage alcohol in Pennsylvania, and it also provides education programs to reduce and prevent dangerous and underage drinking. 

The new PLCB Campaign is available at https://knowwhenknowhow.org.

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