DR. WALLACE: I'm 19 and have attended quite a few parties where alcohol is served. I'm not a drinker, but when pressured, I'll take a glass of wine. I'm told this is safer than a glass of beer, with hard liquor being the worst form of alcohol. Is this true? — Connie, Little Rock, Ark.

CONNIE: The alcohol in wine is no less (or more) intoxicating than that in beer or hard liquor (e.g., a gin and tonic) because all contain the same amount of alcohol and are equally damaging.

Connie, never, never, allow yourself be pressured to drink alcohol of any kind at any time. Alcohol is addictive and a powerful drug. I'm a firm believer that the world would be a better place if all the alcohol on our planet evaporated and it stayed that way!

As a high school administrator, I had a close look at families that were destroyed because of alcohol. The next time you are pressured to consume alcohol, all you need to do is smile and say, "No, thanks." It's just that simple.

BABYSITTERS — THESE MIGHT SAVE A LIFE

DR. WALLACE: I'm 14 and babysit regularly for some neighbors. Our church sponsored a course for teens who want to improve their baby-sitting skills. It was held on two Saturday mornings, with members of the Red Cross and a hospital staff as guest speakers. When we completed the course, we were given a certificate to show to the parents we work for. I'd like to share a few important things that I learned with other baby-sitters. They might save a life:

—To prevent drowning, never leave a young child alone in the bathroom, or in, or near, the swimming pool.

—To prevent children from choking, teach them to take only small bites of food. Be very careful of hot dogs, meat, peanuts, hard candy, popcorn, raw fruits and veggies. All of these foods can easily become lodged in the airway.

—Discourage children from eating while walking or playing. Have them sit at the table. — Molly, Trenton, N.J.

MOLLY: Thanks for sharing this useful and important information with our

teen readers, and also the adults who read this column. Congratulations to your church for sponsoring such a beneficial course!

HER MOTHER DOESN'T LIKE ME

DR. WALLACE: I'm 18 and dating a 17-year-old girl. We care for and respect each other very much. My problem is her mother. I don't think she likes me and I feel very uncomfortable around her. What should I do about this? — Nameless, Ames, Iowa.

NAMELESS: Be as courteous and pleasant as you can be when you are around her mother. The longer she knows you, the better she will become at forming a true opinion about you. Don't necessarily take this rebuff personally. It could be that Mom would make any boy who is dating her daughter feel uncomfortable.

Invite mom to lunch with your girlfriend and you at a nearby restaurant. This will give mom an excellent opportunity to see what a nice respectable young man you are, and also that her daughter is, indeed, fortunate to be dating you.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.