Stopping Teens' Easy Access To Alcohol
Teen drinking is not inevitable.
More than 59 percent of high school seniors don't drink alcohol, reducing their current risk of injury. All adults can play a role in reducing teen access to alcohol and related harm.
Teens report that alcohol is easy to get. Social sources, like family and friends, are the primary sources of alcohol for kids who drink.
- In a 2010 government survey of underage drinkers 12 to 20, 69 percent said they got alcohol without having to pay for it. Some were given alcohol by parents, other family, or friends; others took alcohol without permission.
Parents strongly support 21 as the legal drinking age.
- In one recent national survey, 79 percent of parents said the drinking age should stay the same or be raised.
- In another recent national survey, 84 percent gave this answer.
Take steps at home.
- Keep track of the alcohol in your home. Make sure teens can't access it without your knowledge.
- Let your teen know that the minimum legal drinking age is 21, and that drinking can cause serious health and safety consequences to teens and legal consequences for a person who provides the alcohol.
- Talk to your kids about how to say no to a drink. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism suggests these responses:
- No thanks.
- I don't feel like it. Do you have any soda?
- Alcohol's not my thing.
- Are you talking to me? Forget it.
- You're pressuring me. I said no.
- Back off.
Take steps in your community.
It may have already happened. A neighbor announces she is hosting a teen party, but you shouldn't worry — she's taking the car keys from every kid who comes in. A friend wonders if the legal drinking age causes more problems than it solves. A colleague says he's serving alcohol to his high school son's friends so he can control how much they consume.
- Stand up, and spread the word that you don't want other people serving alcohol to your teen or condoning teen drinking. Silence can be misinterpreted. Let your friends, neighbors, and family members know that the minimum drinking age is a policy that protects teens, and that you do not want your teen to drink.
- Talk to the parents of your teen's friends. Let them know that teen drinking poses unacceptable risks and that you do not want — or expect — anyone to allow your teen to drink alcohol.
- Talk to adults who host teen parties. Let them know that 86 percent of parents support the legal drinking age and a whopping 96 percent of adults agree that it is not okay to serve alcohol to someone else's teen — and not okay to turn a blind eye to teens' alcohol consumption.
- Talk to your school board, school principals, teachers, and coaches. Let them know that it is unsafe, illegal, and irresponsible to condone teen drinking. Ask them to discourage this activity.
- Talk to management at restaurants, town halls, and other venues where teen parties are held. Let them know that parents in your community do not want teens to have access to alcohol.
- Let local law enforcement know that you don't oppose active policing of noisy teen parties. A noisy party may signal alcohol use; you will ask them to check it out.
- Tell local alcohol retailers that you don't mind waiting while they check ID before selling alcohol. Limiting alcohol sales to legal purchasers is an important goal and worth the time it takes.
Check out what individuals and organizations can do for other ways to reduce teen alcohol access.
Don't serve alcohol to teens.
It's unsafe. It's illegal. It's irresponsible.