HEALTH + WELLNESS LIFESTYLE
The Holidays, Underage Drinking & Your Adolescent story by Megan Adkins
The upcoming holiday season is sure to bring delicious food, lifted spirits, and most importantly, quality time with loved ones. If the past year and a half has taught us anything, it’s that time spent with friends and family should be prioritized and cherished. The holidays give everyone an excuse to relax and have fun without the stress of school or work, and young people are particularly prone to utilizing their free time to spend with friends. Despite the joyfulness of the holiday spirit as the world begins to regain a sense of normalcy, the season can also bring about concerning behavior patterns that could compromise the safety of youth. Alcohol is the most widely used substance among youth and underage drinking peaks during the holiday season. There are more opportunities for young people to get their hands on alcohol, whether it be from a parent’s liquor cabinet or holiday social gatherings. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving proves to be the highest underage drinking night of the year, with public health officials referring to it as “Black Wednesday.” This trend continues through the rest of the year, with one study reporting that nearly 2,000 underage people will spend New Year’s Day in the hospital because of alcohol. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) also reports that more than 11,000 young people in the United States, ages 12 to 17, use alcohol for the first time on an average December day. These troubling statistics demonstrate the importance of parents educating 38
VIPMagSC.com
December 2021
their children on the dangers of underage drinking and taking steps to protect them from this behavior. Parents can help to avoid underage drinking incidents by utilizing a few of the following tips: • Be clear with your expectations; let your child know that regardless of the situation, underage drinking and/ or being at a location where it is taking place is simply illegal and unacceptable. • Teach your children it is not necessary to have alcohol to have a good time. Plan and provide a nonalcoholic kid-friendly holiday party. • Help your children serve and enjoy traditional holiday drinks without alcohol such as cider, eggnog, or punch.
