'Tween 12 and 20 by Dr. Robert Wallace

DR. WALLACE: I have been going with Craig for over three months and we get along very well in every way. However, even though I like him a lot, he annoys me when he tries to tell me how to style my hair. He says he wants me to curl it a certain way. I asked him to show me a picture or draw one to illustrate the style he had in mind. To my surprise, he pulled out a picture of his ex-girlfriend and said, "This is the way I like it." I thought the style looked terrible, and I know it would not look good with my hair.

He keeps insisting that I curl my hair. Do you think he should demand me to wear my hair a certain way? What should I do? — Margo, Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.

MARGO: No way should this guy be telling you how to style your hair! And to try to mold you into his ex-girlfriend in the process borders on disturbed behavior. The only way to deal with his request is very firmly: Tell him N-O. Give him full eye contact. Make sure he understands that he has offended you and stepped over the line of appropriate behavior.

If he doesn't get it — and controlling, manipulative jerks often don't — I suggest you have another simple word at the ready for him: Goodbye. And encourage him to look up his ex.

IT'S TIME TO SLOW DOWN, GIRLS

TEENS: Once upon a time, when you talked about the problem of teen drinking, you were talking almost exclusively about boys. This is not the case anymore. Today, youthful drinkers are just as likely to be female, a worrisome trend for more than one reason.

According to a recent study by the National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse, 48 percent of teenage drinkers are girls. It appears they want to be "one of the boys."

The trouble is, girls can't be one of the boys when it comes to alcohol consumption. This substance is simply more harmful to their health.

They metabolize it more slowly than males because they have smaller body frames. This causes them to become intoxicated more quickly. Females also seem to be more susceptible to alcohol-dependency (i.e., alcoholism) than males.

So, from a public health standpoint, it is bad news, indeed, that girls are starting to drink at a younger and younger age. The gender gap disappears entirely among ninth-graders; by then, 40 percent of the boys say they have consumed alcohol, as do 41 percent of the girls.

It's also troubling to note that there are over 3 million teenage smokers in the United States, and more girls than boys are smoking cigarettes on a daily basis, according to the American Heart Association.

You have come a long way, girls — now it's time to SLOW DOWN!

PARENTS SHOULD MEET DAUGHTER'S DATE

DR. WALLACE: I'm 17 and date several guys. Since I drive my own car, I meet these guys wherever we plan to spend time together. If we are going bowling, I meet my date at the bowling alley. Driving to the "date spot" gives me total independence. If we decide to get something to eat, my date will drive his car to the restaurant and I'll drive mine. My dates don't seem to mind this unusual dating arrangement, and I love it.

Now to the question. My parents have not met the guys I'm dating, and they are saying that they want to meet them. I don't think this is necessary because I'm never going to be alone in a vehicle with my date. Your comments, please. — Nameless, Pendleton, Ore.

NAMELESS: I believe that your parents should meet the guys you are dating. Parents are curious when it comes to the guy who is dating their daughter. The better they feel about the guy, the better the chance the relationship will be enjoyable.

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@galesburg.net. 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.

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