Parents, help keep their kids away from alcohol.
The single most important people that kids listen to are their parents. It is your responsibility to talk to your kids about the dangers of alcohol consumption. No matter how hard it may be to bring up the subject, and no matter how young your child is; it’s still critical that you have a dialogue with your kids about this very important issue.
Here are some facts for you to consider:
The number one reason kids don’t drink is parental disapproval.
Children who begin drinking before the age of fifteen are four times as likely to become alcoholics then teens who abstain from drinking. Set clear rules, no underage drinking.
Approximately 11 million American youth under the age of 21 drink alcohol. Nearly half of them drink to excess, consuming five or more drinks in a row, one or more times in a two week period.
Underage drinking is a factor in nearly half of all teen automobile crashes, the leading cause of death among teenagers.
Some parents believe that underage drinking is a rite of passage but alcohol-related traffic crashes is not a rite of passage but rather a life-altering event.
Underage teens, especially girls, are finding it easier and easier to obtain alcohol—the number one drug problem facing American youth. What’s worse, they’re getting it more often from their own parents, older siblings, relatives and friends than from strangers.
Alcohol may cause permanent damage to the memory and learning center inside the brain as well as decision-making and reasoning areas. (The American Medical Association).
Imaging studies have revealed a consistent association between heavy drinking and physical brain damage, even in the absence of other usual symptoms of severe alcoholism — chronic liver disease or alcohol-induced dementia.
Encourage your kids to find their INSTEAD. Stay involved in their everyday activities, it will make it easy for you to spot any potential challenges that may come up. Notice the warning signs of underage drinking. Above all, keep the lines of communication open between you and your kids. They’ll appreciate you being there, and they really need your help to stay away from alcohol and the damage that drinking can do.