Underage Drinking among Teens and Young Adults.
Underage drinking has become quite common among teens and young adults. Early alcohol use may have long–lasting consequences. People who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence at some time in their lives compared with those who have their first drink at age 20 or older.
Underage alcohol consumption is more likely to kill young people than all illegal drugs combined!
Some negative effects of underage drinking are as follows:
- Drinking and Driving
- Sexual Assault
- Suicide
- High-Risk Sex
Parents’ drinking behavior and favorable attitudes about drinking have been positively associated with adolescents’ initiating and continuing drinking. Children who were warned about alcohol by their parents and children who reported being closer to their parents were less likely to start drinking.
Here are some general tips for parents and other adults:
- When you talk with your teens about drinking, listen to them and respect what they say.
- Make clear your expectation that your teens will not drink.
- Teach your children about the dangers of underage drinking.
Underage drinking can be hard to deal with as a parent. Teens like to do NOT what their parents tell them, but rather what they see their friends and peers at school doing in order to fit in or to be ‘cool’. Being open with your child about the risks involved with underage drinking is important in your parental duties and can help your child to better understand what exactly it is that they are getting themselves involved with.
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