It's 2 a.m., two hours past curfew, when you hear the key turn in the front-door lock. You are already fuming, sick and tired of your adolescent not honoring what you consider to be a very liberal curfew time. As your teen stumbles in the door, the smell hits you: your anger flares. Not only is your teenager late, they've been drinking.
Nationwide, 79.1% of students had had at least 1 drink of alcohol during their lifetime. Overall, Hispanic and white students (83.1% and 81.3%, respectively) were significantly more likely than black students (73.0%) to have had at least 1 drink of alcohol during their lifetime. Half (50.8%) of all students had had at least 1 drink of alcohol during the 30 days preceding the survey (ie, current alcohol use). Overall, male students (37.3%) were significantly more likely than female students (28.6%) to report episodic heavy drinking. This significant difference was identified for all racial/ethnic subgroups and for grade 11. [Centers for Disease Control, Data from Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance, MMWR, 1998;47 (No. SS-3)]
Is this an isolated incident or signs of a bigger problem? If is is an isolated incident, does that mean parents can breathe a sign of relief? What should parents do if they catch a teen drinking.
The most obvious issue here is that your child is underage. They are breaking the law. If your child drives a car, the rules about alcohol are often much stricter in many states. For example, in California, the legal limit before a DUI is issued is much lower for anyone under the legal drinking age of 21. Therefore, a single "harmless" beer at a party can make an average-sized girl legally drunk under the law.
Alcohol affects the judgment of adults. It has an even greater effect on young teenagers. Teens are already prone to risk-taking behavior, and alcohol magnifies this characteristic.
Motor vehicle accidents remain the leading cause of death for 15 to 20 year olds [National Center for Health Statistics]. There were 5,380 teen alcohol-related deaths in 1982. The number plateaued in the mid-1990s, but has risen back to the highest level, reversing a 20-year downward trend [the National Highway Safety Administration].
An interesting fact found in studies is that teens are more concerned about drinking and driving than are their parents. And the facts also show that the number one preventive measure is talking to teens. The simple practice of discussing issues such as drinking, drug use, and other high-risk behaviors has a significant impact on adolescent behavior. Start with young teens. Evidence shows that some teens begin experimenting with alcohol when in middle school. Some children as young as 8 or 9 report having tried alcohol. Parents who discuss alcohol use with their children in an informative manner and set guidelines and expectations for behavior can significantly impact their child's tendency to experiment.
Educate your child about the risks and consequences of drinking. This doesn't have to be a shouting match. Give your child materials that will teach them about the sad results of teens who have used and/or abused alcohol. Let them know you have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to illegal use of alcohol. Be sure you are not giving mixed messages by irresponsibly using alcohol yourself. If you drink and drive, that is the loudest message your child will hear. If you get intoxicated in front of your teen, that is another very loud message, much louder than any lecture you might give.