When I meet parent groups the issue of teenagers and alcohol always comes up. It's the number one concern for parents, who worry that under the influence their teenage girls may be sexually exploited and that teenage sons may get into fights or trouble with the law.

One father has made a deal with his teenagers. As long as they don't drink alcohol, he'll insure them to drive his car. So far, it's worked well. Getting their licences and having use of the car for their social lives has been more important to his offspring than booze. They don't suffer any peer pressure to drink, because their friends appreciate having a designated driver at their disposal.

I also heard recently of a grandfather who promised all his grandchildren that if they didn't smoke before the age of 21, he would give them £500 on their 21st birthdays. That was 20 years ago when £500 was a substantial sum. Not a single grandchild started smoking.

Other families provide resources for their teenagers to enjoy activities outside pubs. Parents tell me that there's a new trend for teenagers going out for alcohol-free meals with friends: it helps take the pressure off teenagers to drink by allowing them to socialise where alcohol isn't the focus.