Teen Drinking

We’re joking. My teenage daughter and I do not pound down drinks together, though we are behind a bar. What she has in her hand is a water bottle.

What is not a joke are the stats on teens and alcohol. It is by far the most used and abused drug among America’s teenagers.  According to a national survey reported by the Soundvision Foundationhttp://www.soundvision.com/Info/teens/stat.asp

nearly one third (31.5%) of all high school students reported hazardous drinking (5+ drinks in one setting) during the 30 days preceding the survey. They will spend $5.5 billion on alcohol which is more than they spend on soft drinks, tea, milk, juice, coffee or books combined. And sadly, Alcohol is the leading cause of death amongst teens.

Lets face it, no matter how much we parents deny it teen drinking is a fact and it’s not going away. It is how you handle the subject when talking to your kid that can lead to a good or bad decision.

Here are some important facts to discuss with your child.

1. Your teen needs to know the consequences of drinking alcohol. Not just the legal ramifications, the social, physical and personal consequences. They should know what it looks like to be drunk, how you sound to others and how ridiculous it looks. They need to know how it alters their mind, their judgment and possible rational decision-making abilities. As a mother of teen girls this fact here is a startling fact. Sixty percent of college women diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease were drunk at the time of infection. (Advocacy Institute, 1992)

2. I also like to tell teen girls how drinking affects ones appearance. It may seem surfacey and unimportant but that appearance is a big deal to teens and I like to use all the relatable ammunition. Blood shot eyes; a puffy face and extra weight from empty calories are some of the ugly results of drinking.  And every girl should know that an alcohol diet is not a good way to lose weight. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Ask your teen. It’s currently a very trendy weight loss technique.

3. Let your teens know what your expectation is about alcohol use. There should be strict enforcement about not having a drinking party in your family home. The down line affects of this uninformed decision can and will impact your child and you. Not only will your child get in trouble for serving alcohol to underage teens, as the responsible adult and homeowner whether you were in your home at the time of the party or not, you can be prosecuted, arrested and jailed.

4.  Everyone needs to monitor drinking and driving, not just your teen. An automobile is a weapon and driving drunk is tantamount to wielding a gun. No person, teen or otherwise, should get behind the wheel of an automobile with a blood alcohol level above .08. Make it clear that drinking and driving or riding with someone who has been drinking will not be tolerated. Ask your teen to call for a ride, take a cab, or call for permission to stay overnight if he or she or a friend who is driving has been drinking. This does not give teens permission to drink; it tells them that their safety is most important.

5. Frequently express how you feel about underage drinking. However, do not lecture or threaten your teen about alcohol use. These conversations should be sobering (no pun intended) and impactful. No need to threaten or punish just present the real and factual possibly even frightening. Nothing is more effective than stone cold reality. For example, approximately 240,000 to 360,000 of the nation’s 12 million current undergraduates will ultimately die from alcohol-related causes–more than the number that will get MAs and PhDs combined. (Eigen, 1991 in the 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse).
6. Talk with your teen about ways to handle pressure from friends to drink. Teach your teen how to say “no” and to suggest doing something different (safe). To feel comfortable talking openly with you, your teen needs to know that you will not punish him or her for being honest.

7. If you can help your teens develop outside interests. Encourage him or her to join a club, become a volunteer, get a part-time job, or become involved in sports it takes them out of the realm of alcoholic related activities.

8. When your teen wants to talk about alcohol, listen to his or her opinions, help him or her make good decisions, and treat him or her with respect.

9. Get to know the kids your teens hang out with at school. These peers will be a huge influence on their entire high school career. Know where they hang out and what they are doing. If it’s not the right crowd encourage your kids to find a different more like-minded group. Encourage them to get involved in school activities that will inherently draw them to a new group of kids.

10. Do not serve alcohol to your teen unless it is for a religious or appropriate occasion.  Lock your liquor cabinet if you feel you must. Kids should not feel that alcohol is a complete taboo. We all know what happens when you absolutely restrict an activity. It becomes just what someone will want to do. There are times when alcohol in moderation is acceptable. Mirroring this behavior for your teen is a positive.

11. Be a role model. If you drink, do so responsibly. Never drink and drive! Do not use alcohol as a way to cope with stress, depression, or anger. Alcohol can only make problems worse in the long run. If you have a drinking problem, or think you may have one, help is available. Talk to a health care professional or seek help.