Circle Park: The Holidays Underage Drinking And Your Adolescent

THE HOLIDAYS, UNDERAGE DRINKING AND YOUR ADOLESCENT

story by Erica Buffkin, Prevention Specialist II, Circle Park Behavioral Health Services

The holidays are a time of celebration, fun, traditions, and relaxation. Families gather together, friends reunite and social gatherings abound. However, it’s also a time when youth are most likely to have access to alcohol and first initiate its use. While some young people get alcohol from friends, others take advantage of the alcohol their parents have bought for upcoming holiday parties or from inventories kept in their homes. Underage drinking, unfortunately, can easily become a part of many holiday parties and events. The most popular drinking holidays for youth are Blackout Wednesday (the night before Thanksgiving), Christmas, and New Year’s Eve celebrations. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), on an average day in December, more than 11,000 young people between the ages of 12 and 17 will use alcohol for the first time. Unfortunately, alcohol-related incidents are one of the most common causes of death for teens, with over 400 dying monthly from alcohol-related deaths.

Teens who drink are more likely to engage in risky behaviors including acts of violence and risky sexual behavior, and they’re at a higher risk of being involved in a car crash. Furthermore, people who start drinking before age 15 are 50% more likely to become alcohol dependent as an adult. The same was true to a lesser extent for those who started drinking between ages 15 to 17 according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

Parents can help to avoid underage drinking incidents during the holidays 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, often dangerous, and unacceptable. • Teach your children it is not necessary to have alcohol to have a good time. Plan and provide a non-alcoholic kid-friendly holiday party in your home. • 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 or have it available to anyone under the age of 21. • If you maintain alcohol at home, make sure to always keep track of your supply and lock it away if possible. • Establish a friendly relationship with the 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 choose not to make alcohol a part of their holiday season. Research shows that parents are the number one influence in their children’s lives and the choices they make. Clear and direct communication, boundaries, and monitoring often prove to be 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. Join us in helping all youth to have a happy and safe holiday season by supporting smart and healthy choices!