I think the thing is educating, and not "telling" or "demanding" or "forbidding" but sitting down and talking to your kids. I knew what an alcoholic was so I was careful. Paris is 5 and she knows what an alcoholic is, we talk about the affects of drugs and alcohol often. And why people smoke, the damage it can do (not just that its stinky or yuk), but we really do chat about this stuff. Right now she's not wanting any of this stuff obviously so I'm not talking to her about what I will and will not want her to do. She doesn't want to and I'm more than ok with that. She understands that drink driving is dangerous, she knows that when you have a piercing it leaves a scar and it hurts to get one, a tattoo hurts and lasts forever... we talk about all this stuff but not in a "fear" it kind of way, just the facts. Sure I could very well eat my words, I don't claim to know it all But I do think that "because I said so" isn't a good enough reason for a teenager and can lead to problesm.

Rolymogs, sounds like you and I are very similar in regards to this.