Parents, this article if for you. Speaking as a parent, let’s be honest; most of us associate underage drinking with high school seniors and college students. But did you know that roughly one-third of middle school students admit to trying alcohol?
How can you talk to your tween or teen about underage drinking? You can start by knowing and sharing these five things with your child:
#1: A Standard Drink
Different drinks contain different amounts of alcohol. A standard drink has roughly 14 grams of pure alcohol. You can usually find this amount of alcohol in:
- One 12oz. beer
- One 4-5oz. glass of wine
- One 1.5oz. shot of 80 proof liquor
Mixed drinks containing hard liquor are hard to guestimate the grams of pure alcohol because multiple types of alcohol are mixed. Different brands and types of beer and wine can contain higher or lower amounts of alcohol.
The Lesson: One drink can be enough to influence behavior and put the drinker in danger.
#2: Alcohol Induced Injuries
When a child starts to drink before the age of 15, they become 12 times more likely to sustain an injury while under the influence of alcohol. They are also up to 10 times more likely to start a fight after drinking versus someone age 21 or older.
Does your child play sports? Do they love to go to the roller skating rink with their friends? Are they active?
The Lesson: Alcohol induced injuries caused by or because of alcohol encouraged violence wreak havoc among underage drinkers and can cause injuries that destroy your child’s ability to do things they enjoy.
#3: Dangerous Sexual Activity
Alcohol plays a significant role in risky sexual activities. It can be the antagonist behind unwanted, unintended, and unprotected sexual behaviors. The consequences can include:
- Loss of self-esteem
- An unplanned and even dangerous pregnancy
- Contracting a sexually transmitted disease
The Lesson: Alcohol affects the drinker’s ability to make good decisions, and your child needs to know they can quickly become a victim (or the perpetrator) and reap lifelong consequences.
#4: The Road to Illicit Drug Use
According to research, over 67 percent of children who drink before the age of 15 will try an illicit drug. Not only is underage drinking illegal, but it changes the way the brain and body develop.
The Lesson: Underage drinking can lead to years of substance abuse and addiction problems that will dramatically change the course of your child’s life.
#5: Death
In North Carolina, one child dies every week because of underage drinking. In addition, some 5,000 people under the age of 21 will die each year due to underage drinking that causes automotive accidents, homicides, suicides, and unintentional injuries like burns, falls, and drownings.
The Lesson: Alcohol is dangerous and drinking it under the age of 21 can cause serious and deadly consequences.
The best time to talk to your child about alcohol is before they start drinking. The bottom line is that you are the most powerful influence on your child’s behavior. The conversations you choose to have (or not have) will influence everything from your child’s opinions to their actions.