Parents. The Anti-Drug

Bannockburn, Deerfield, Highland Park, Highwood, and Riverwoods
December 2010
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'Tis the Season
Greetings! 

The widespread availability of alcohol at holiday parties gives our teens and pre-teens many opportunities to sneak alcohol when no one is looking, or convince a relative to let them enjoy "just one" alcoholic beverage. And some parents may be more inclined to let their teenagers have an alcoholic drink to share in a family toast or otherwise share in "the holiday spirits."


We would like to share with you some excerpts from an editorial by Stephen Wallace, M.S.Ed., Chairman and CEO of SADD.  To read the editorial in its entirety, visit the Parents. The Anti-Drug website. 

Allowing Holiday Drinking by Teens sets Dangerous Precedent

According to a Teens Today study from SADD and Liberty Mutual Group, nearly half of high school teens (45 percent) say their parents allow them to drink at home, including almost one in three who say they are allowed to do so to mark special occasions, such as holidays.

Where's the harm in that?  Let's make a list.

  • The younger a child is when he starts to drink, the higher the chances he will have alcohol-related problems later in life.
  • Alcohol use by teens affects still developing cognitive abilities and impairs memory and learning.
  • Teens who drink are more likely to commit or be the victim of violence (including sexual assault) and to experience stress, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
So, why the inaction on the part of otherwise caring adults?  Among the likely reasons is a longstanding myth that allowing teens to drink at home will make it less likely they will drink elsewhere.
In This Issue
Allowing holiday drinking sets dangerous precedent
Wishful thinking, through and through
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Wishful thinking, through and through

Here's what the data says.

  • Among high school teens, those who tend to avoid alcohol are more than twice as likely than those who repeatedly use alcohol to say their parents never let them drink at home (84 percent vs. 40 percent).
  • More than half (57 percent) of high school teens who report their parents allow them to drink at home, even once in a while, say they drink with their friends, as compared to just 14 percent of teens who say their parents don't let them drink.
    • 

The silver lining in this holiday cloud can be found in widespread agreement among teens that their parents are significant forces when it comes to decisions about alcohol. According to Teens Today, almost seven in ten high school teens (66 percent) rate mom and dad as most influential in their decisions not to drink.

But influence cuts two ways. By allowing underage drinking during the holidays, adults deprive teens of the unambiguous, common sense guidelines they need to make good choices all year long.

It is clear that parents who talk with their teens about underage drinking, set expectations for behavior, and enforce consequences for violating the rules are significantly less likely to have children who use alcohol.


We encourage everyone to take time to talk every day.  Talk with other adults...talk with teens...talk with us!  Come visit us at our new website www.parentstheantidrug.org or email Parents.TheAntiDrug@gmail.com.
Wishing you a safe and wonderful holiday!

Sincerely,

Parents. The Anti-Drug