QUESTION EVERYTHING.
HERE’S THE TOP 5 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ELEPHANT IS IN THE ROOM CAMPAIGN.
1WHAT IS THE ELEPHANT IS IN THE ROOM CAMPAIGN?
The Elephant is in the Room is a marketing campaign designed by parents
for parents to help them prevent underage drinking before it starts.
2WHERE CAN I FIND CAMPAIGN MATERIALS?
The Elephant is in the Room campaign materials are displayed in school,
on social media, through email, text messages, and here on our website!
3WHY SHOULD I PAY ATTENTION TO THE CAMPAIGN?
Because you love your children and want to keep them safe. The Elephant is
in the Room is like a good friend that’s full of great advice, helpful resources,
and tips on how to keep your teen from drinking alcohol underage.
4IS THE CAMPAIGN IN SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE?
Nope. The Elephant is in the Room campaign is only offered in a couple
schools in southern Illinois. The people responsible for creating the materials
live here, work here, and know what it’s like to be a parent because well, we
are parents.
5IS THIS NECESSARY? MY KID IS TOO YOUNG TO THINK ABOUT DRINKING.
Studies show that kids start experimenting with alcohol as early as age 12, so yes, the campaign materials and messages are an invaluable resource for parents who want to keep their kids safe and healthy.
IF YOU GET A BUSY SIGNAL, KEEP TRYING UNTIL YOU GET THROUGH.
Hey, Mom! Leave a Message.
Your underage drinking talk might feel old-school, and it can feel like you're always getting a busy signal — but trust us, it's still getting through. Keep dialing, keep trying, and don't hang up until they get it.
Because here's the thing: it works. Parents are still the #1 reason kids decide not to drink (HealthyChildren.org/AAP) — even when they act like they're not listening. And since 2003, as parent-child conversations about alcohol have gone up 44%, underage drinking rates have dropped 60% (Responsibility.org). Turns out those "awkward" talks in the car, at dinner, or through a bedroom door aren't so awkward after all, they're working.
So keep the line open. Below are a few ways to make sure your message doesn't go to voicemail.
DIAL IT IN
Your underage drinking prevention message that worked in 6th grade might need a tune-up by 8th. Same message, new delivery. That way they'll actually pick up what you're laying down. Dig?
PHONE-A-FRIEND
Talk to other parents about how they're handling the underage drinking conversation. Consider it a conference call for keeping your kids safe — nobody has to go it alone, and the more parents on the line, the harder it is for kids to find a house without one.
KEEP REDIALING
One conversation isn't a strategy — it's a start. Set the message once, then set it again. And again. Consistency is what turns a "talk" into something they actually remember when it counts.
HERE'S WHY IT'S WORTH THE CALL:
Parents are the biggest influence on whether a kid decides to drink - bigger than friends, bigger than movies, bigger than anything else (HealthyChildren.org/AAP).More conversations, less drinking. As parent-child talks about alcohol rose 44% since 2003, underage drinking rates fell 60% over that same stretch (Responsibility.org).
It's never too early, or too late to start. Whether your kid is in 4th grade or a senior in high school, keep the line open.
