Parents have both direct and indirect influences on many adolescent problem behaviors, including underage drinking. To reach a large number of parents and to encourage parents to adopt behavior associated with fewer adolescent problems, parent education programs must be developed and evaluated. The Amazing Alternatives! Home Program, a component of a communitywide intervention called Project Northland, attempted to reach and influence parents of seventh graders through booklets sent by direct mail. The booklets had two parts; the first contained information to be read by parents, and the second was a discussion activity to be completed by parents and their seventh- grade children. The main goals of the program were to increase communication between parents and seventh graders concerning alcohol-related issues, to improve parenting skills such as monitoring and supervision, and, ultimately, to reduce underage drinking. At least 33 percent of the 1,028 eligible families chose to participate in the program. Program participation was associated with increased communication between seventh graders and their parents concerning alcohol-related topics. Changes in other parenting behaviors and student self-reported alcohol use, however, were not observed following program participation. This study concludes that parent programs such as the one evaluated may be a necessary, but not sufficient, intervention to achieve reductions in underage drinking. 4 tables and 49 references