It has been said that youth alcohol use and abuse, are actually adult problems. A recently released study by SAMHSA, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, the nation’s main substance abuse department, has outlined why that statement may be correct. This study found that 40% of the Underage (UA) youths (those ages 12-20) who are current drinkers, were provided the alcohol by someone who is 21 or older. (This is different from those who had it in the house and the youths stole it.) 6% of those were given the alcohol by parents (leaving 32% being given alcohol by another adult—bartender, salesperson, older sibling, relative, person they shoulder-tapped, etc.)
It is legal in the state of Wisconsin for parents to give alcohol to a child as long as the parent is PHYSICALLY WITH that youth until he no longer shows any BAC (blood alcohol content).
But is this a good thing? Some parents argue that they figure that their teens will be drinking anyway and they would rather they do it “safely.” These parents think taking away the keys is a way for their teen to safely drink alcohol with their friends. Let’s explore some of these assumptions.
This blog entry will deal with the first assumption -- “they will be drinking anyway.” The latest survey info for the nation shows that 43% of youths ages 12-20 had at least one drink of alcohol on one or more occasion in the past 30 days. What that says is that MOST of them did NOT have alcohol in the last 30 days. The same national survey showed that 74% did NOT binge drink (defined as 5 or more drinks at one time.) When we make the assumption that “they will do it anyway” we cede the battlefield and give tacit consent to our youth. When we provide it to them, the message is “It’s ok for you to drink.” They just do NOT hear the rest of the intended message “It’s ok for you to drink when you are with me.” Their brains just don’t work that way.
The Dells statistics are encouraging…In the 2007 Choices Survey, 69% of the grade 9-12 teens said they had never had alcohol in the last 30 days. And fully 62% said it would be “very hard” to get alcohol from their parents. Way to go parents!!
We need to continue to hold the line on UA drinking. I’ll explore more about why, things like brain development, long-term consequences, etc. in future postings.