I think there isn't enough info here to say either way. It makes a huge difference if we're talking about addiction vs. just making mistakes. And I think it also makes a difference if we're talking about friends vs. your child vs. a romantic partner
If we're just talking about mistakes of a child/teen... The best thing my parents ever did was make me feel like the choice was up to me. I had nothing to rebel against when they let me know they wouldn't do anything if they caught me smoking, drinking excessively, or doing drugs. They just said they would be disappointed. To me, that is FAR more effective. First of all it really surprised me, as I expected they would kill me. Second of all, it empowered me. I liked feeling that I had the power to decide for myself. A lot of times teens/children rebel when they have people who are consistently telling them to change, telling them who to be, what to do, what to think, etc.
If we're just talking about mistakes of a child/teen... The best thing my parents ever did was make me feel like the choice was up to me. I had nothing to rebel against when they let me know they wouldn't do anything if they caught me smoking, drinking excessively, or doing drugs. They just said they would be disappointed. To me, that is FAR more effective. First of all it really surprised me, as I expected they would kill me. Second of all, it empowered me. I liked feeling that I had the power to decide for myself. A lot of times teens/children rebel when they have people who are consistently telling them to change, telling them who to be, what to do, what to think, etc.