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.

HEALTHY BOUNDARIES TODAY COULD LEAD TO HEALTHY CHOICES TOMORROW.

KIDS DON'T ALWAYS LIKE WHAT'S GOOD FOR THEM.

Broccoli. Bedtimes. A firm "no" on underage alcohol. Your kids probably won’t throw a parade over any of it, and that's okay. Being a parent was never meant to be a popularity contest.

Here's the truth: kids don't need you to be their friend. They need you to be their guide as they prepare for adulthood. Take this opportunity to teach them how to set a healthy boundary and stick to it, even if they push back…especially if they push back.

So keep the line open. Below are a few ways to make sure your message doesn't go to voicemail.

Don't Just Take Our Word For It
Setting clear, consistent rules around alcohol isn't just old-fashioned parenting; it's parenting backed by research. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that teens whose parents establish clear alcohol policies early and enforce them consistently are more likely to see those rules as legitimate, and more likely to follow them.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services puts it plainly in its family guide to preventing underage drinking: set clear rules about alcohol, enforce those rules consistently, make your no-use expectation known, and stick with it.

In other words: the eye-rolls are temporary. The boundary is what sticks.

Why It's Worth Dishing Out
Clear rules work better than mixed messages. Teens are less likely to drink, and drink less if they do, when family rules around alcohol are specific and consistently applied.

Consistency builds legitimacy. Kids may push back, but research shows they still want their parents to have a say, as long as the message doesn't change depending on the day.

It's a marathon, not a single conversation. One "no" won't stick forever. Enforcing the boundary, meal after meal, month after month, is what makes it real.

Your kids might not love the rules you set any more than they love broccoli, but keep enforcing your no-underage-alcohol policy anyway. Teaching healthy boundaries today could lead to healthy choices tomorrow.