Alcohol and Underage Drinking Resources

Ever wonder why teens do some of the crazy things that they do.  You might be thinking, “I have a good kid, but why did my 14 year old daughter color her hair with permanent marker?” or “My son is a straight A student and never in trouble, so why did he pull down his pants to ‘moon’ his friend in gym class?”  Current technology has made it possible to look at brains and help us have a better understanding of what is really going on.  The following video gives some amazing insight into how teens look at risky behavior.  Take a look and tell us what you think.  How do you prepare your teen for times when faced with risky behavior?

http://www.learner.org/courses/neuroscience/common_includes/si_flowplayer.html?pid=2383

A recent study shows a connection between watching movies with alcohol related content with teen’s early onset and binge drinking. Wearing alcohol branded merchandise was also a positive factor connected to drinking in teens.   Movies that show drinking can make the activity look normal and acceptable and tend to show only positive effects of drinking.  When the negative effects are rarely shown it makes drinking look less risky.  Half of movies produced in Hollywood show at least one alcohol related content regardless of the rating.   Alcohol related merchandise further promotes these activities especially if the brands are viewed in a movie and then seen on hats, t-shirts or other items owned by peers.

As a parent you may feel powerless to these forces.  But there is hope.  If you are a current follower of Parents LEAD the following ideas will not be new to you.  This same research shows that restricting teens watching of R rated movies will help since more alcohol related content is shown here.  Don’t allow your teen to purchase alcohol branded merchandise. Using this merchandise involves the teen in the actual marketing process by giving the impression that the teen is endorsing that products use. And once again the study shows that setting limits, having a warm loving relationship, making alcohol unavailable at home, and watching the messages parental drinking models all are sending strong positive protective factors that help teens not engage in early onset drinking.

What tips do you have for other parents on regulating media in your home.  Post your ideas here, we’d love to hear from you!

Click here if you would like to read this study.

Beverage manufactures of hard liquor have found a way to enter the beer market with drinks called alcopops. These drinks are a combination of distilled spirits and beer. Marketing that targets young audiences, its sweet lemonade or soda like flavor, and youthful fun packaging are attracting our teens. The sweet flavor of these drinks works to mask the bitter alcohol flavor, which makes them easier to drink and more attractive to underage drinkers.
Manufactures of these drinks have convinced regulators to consider these beverages in the “beer” category resulting in the ability to market this product more easily to our youth. This beer like status enables manufactures to promote alcopop type drinks during many prime time television shows that teens watch. Advertisements that promote these drinks as youthful and hip appeal to teens, especially girls. Teen girls report drinking alcopops more often than boys.
Another concern is that alcopops are generally regarded as having less alcohol content than most beers which is not true. Containing just as much alcohol as a beer or a mixed drink, alcopops are dangerous for our youth. The sweet flavor and the fact that they do not taste like alcohol is a reason most teens say they drink them. This easy to consume beverage can lead to teens drinking too much and be a gateway to other forms of alcohol.
As a parent, you need to know that alcopops are just as dangerous as any another alcoholic beverage. Teens attraction to these drinks, make them maybe even more dangerous. Talk to your teen about the dangers of alcopops and help them look more critically at advertisements. If you are concerned that your teen may have already been exposed to these drinks, go to http://www.parentslead.org/is-my-son-or-daughter-using.php for help on how to address the problem.