The Dutch campaign Laten we nuchter blijven, meaning “Let’s stay sober”, helps parents and caregivers talk with teenagers about alcohol, smoking and vaping. Launched by the municipality of Goeree-Overflakkee and local partner organisations in February 2024, it initially focused on alcohol before expanding to smoking and vaping in 2025. The campaign combines clear boundaries with open conversations, encouraging parents to take an active role without turning every discussion into a confrontation.
The initiative grew out of local public-health research showing that teenagers on Goeree-Overflakkee drank more than those in surrounding regions and began drinking at a younger age. The findings also highlighted adults’ role in providing alcohol. The campaign addresses familiar situations, such as a teenager asking a parent to buy drinks for a party or receiving beer at a friend’s home. It encourages parents to discuss these situations openly and consider the messages conveyed by their own decisions.
The website offers practical conversation tips, information about alcohol, smoking and vaping, and perspectives from local professionals. Parents are encouraged to choose a relaxed moment, listen to their teenager, prepare themselves with relevant information and explain the reasons behind family rules. A downloadable toolkit provides campaign logos, ready-to-share social-media texts and images, and an infographic presenting local research findings. Families concerned about a teenager’s substance use are also directed to support organisation YOUZ.
The campaign has taken its message into public spaces. Around Concert at Sea in June 2026, Goeree-Overflakkee and neighbouring Schouwen-Duiveland displayed yellow posters encouraging families to discuss substance use before teenagers attended the festival. One message translates as “A good conversation lasts longer than a hangover.” By connecting everyday family situations with visible community messages, the campaign gives parents practical ways to begin conversations and keep them going.
Find more from Laten we nuchter blijven (Netherlands, 2026)
