FIRST WORD
Teens & Underage
Drinking
It is illegal in the Cayman Islands for anyone under the age of 18 to consume or purchase alcohol. Despite this fact, a recent Cayman Islands Student Drug Use Survey (CISDUS) conducted by the National Drug Council (NDC) found that 44% of the 3,478 participating students admitted to using alcohol at least once during their lifetime. An alarming 16% of students revealed they had drunk alcohol at some point during the last 30 days. – Clare-Louise McGrath Alcohol is the number one drug of choice amongst teenagers in the Cayman Islands, according to the CISDUS 2020 findings. However, proper parental intervention can influence children to make smart and informed decisions surrounding alcohol and underage drinking.
Why Teens Drink
Understanding the contributing factors which can lead to underage drinking ensures you are coming from a place of empathy when you approach your child about the risks.
Peer Pressure Teens' still-developing brains can make it hard to resist the pull of peer pressure and consider the consequences of their choices. Instead, the immediate reward of feeling liked or a part of the group outweighs the risks of giving in to underage drinking. Mixed Messaging On an Island where brunch is a cultural institution and coolers filled with alcoholic beverages are a boat day fixture, alcohol is regularly shown to be synonymous with fun, which can be a confusing message for children. Moreover, studies suggest the positive portrayal of alcohol in the media (social media, TV, radio, print) can sway children into early use. Coping Mechanism According to The National Centre on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), highly-stressed teens are twice as likely to smoke, drink, and use illegal drugs. Mounting achievement pressure paired with a seesaw of hormones and emotions may lead teens to believe the easiest way to cope is by numbing their feelings with substances. Natural Inclination to Push Boundaries As your teen develops their own values and sense of self, they may be inclined to challenge the boundaries parents set for them. Simply telling your teen not to do something can have the opposite of the desired effect.
The Dangers
Underage drinking can carry serious and lasting implications for the user. Some of these include:
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Cayman Parent Magazine | First Word
Health Risks Alcohol is a depressant, and its effects are exaggerated in teenagers. Alcohol can slow down brain activity for up to two weeks after consumption and repeated alcohol abuse from a young age can carry long-term consequences for brain development. Some of the areas which can be permanently impacted include memory function, motor function, learning ability and attention span. Additionally, more life-threatening health concerns, such as heart disease, liver disease, cancer, nerve damage and respiratory infections may emerge over years of heavy drinking. Impaired Judgement Drinking impairs your judgment and while under its influence you may make decisions you otherwise would not have made when sober. Generally, teens who drink are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviour, experiment with other illicit substances, get into fights and commit crimes. Against the Law The bottom line is it is illegal to buy or possess alcohol if you are under the age of 18 in the Cayman Islands, even in the privacy of your own household. You also risk losing your licence for a minimum of 12 months if you are found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol while driving. Depending on the level of intoxication, you could be subject to a CI$1,000 fine and face up to six months of imprisonment for the first offence, and a CI$2,000 fine and up to 12 months of imprisonment for a repeat offence.
Tips for Talking to Your Child About Alcohol
35% of students surveyed in the NDC Cayman Islands Student Drug Use Survey identified their parents as having the most influence on their decision to not experiment with drugs or alcohol. The most effective way to inform your child’s values on drinking is to start talking about it – whether you are trying to prevent them from drinking in the first place, or curb any existing alcohol use. Start Young Children begin to formulate their own opinions on drinking from an increasingly young age – meaning parental intervention should start early. By age 10 children will have already been
