Circle Park: Holidays, Drinking & Your Adolescent

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 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.

For parents of underage youth, it is important to monitor all temptations with the social activities that accompany the holiday season. It is important to pay close attention to the age of anyone consuming alcohol. A few tips to assist with this would be:

• Never serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. • If you maintain alcohol at home, make sure to always keep track of your supply. • Establish a friendly relationship with parents of your children’s friends so that you can call ahead and make sure alcohol will not be involved in the parties or activities your child may be attending and that appropriate supervision will be on hand. • Make sure your child is maintaining healthy friendships and having friends who chose not to make alcohol a part of their holiday season.

Alcohol-free holiday activities

• Bake and decorate cookies • Build a bonfire and make s’mores • Host a family game night • Watch your family’s favorite holiday movies • Drive through Christmas light displays

Parents hold a tremendous amount of power in aiding young people in making wise choices. Clear and direct communication often proves to be one of the most important factors in preparing youth to avoid high-risk situations. Furthermore, commitment to the consequences of set expectations allows for healthy boundaries and better functioning families which are protective factors for the prevention of underage drinking. For more information regarding Circle Park’s services, call 843-665-9349 or visit www.circlepark.com.

Megan Adkins, Prevention Specialist Circle Park Behavioral Health Services www.circlepark.com