ALCOHOL 101ALCOHOL 101

Parenting to Prevent Parenting to Prevent Underage DrinkingUnderage Drinking

Ellen Snelling MSEllen Snelling MSTampa Alcohol CoalitionTampa Alcohol Coalition

ALCOHOLALCOHOL Alcohol is a drugAlcohol is a drug Alcohol is the #1 drug of choice for Alcohol is the #1 drug of choice for

children and adolescentschildren and adolescents Persons who first drank before the Persons who first drank before the

age of 15 are 5 times more likely to age of 15 are 5 times more likely to report dependence or abuse than report dependence or abuse than those who first drank at 21 or olderthose who first drank at 21 or older

ALCOHOL IS A DRUG-ALCOHOL IS A DRUG-THE #1 DRUG OF CHOICE FOR THE #1 DRUG OF CHOICE FOR

TEENSTEENS

WHERE DO KIDS GET WHERE DO KIDS GET ALCOHOL?ALCOHOL?

MANY TEENS GET ALCOHOL MANY TEENS GET ALCOHOL FROM HOMEFROM HOME

ALCOHOL AT HOMEALCOHOL AT HOME 2 out of 3 teens said it is easy to get 2 out of 3 teens said it is easy to get

alcohol in their homesalcohol in their homes Nearly 1 in 4 teens were given Nearly 1 in 4 teens were given

alcohol by their parentsalcohol by their parents 25% of parents allowed their kids to 25% of parents allowed their kids to

drink with “supervision”drink with “supervision” 27% of teens said they attended a 27% of teens said they attended a

drinking party with parents presentdrinking party with parents present source: AMA nationwide poll, 2005source: AMA nationwide poll, 2005

SOURCES OF ALCOHOLSOURCES OF ALCOHOLFOR TEENSFOR TEENS

Adults over age 21 are the main Adults over age 21 are the main source source

Youth under age 21Youth under age 21 PartiesParties Bars, grocery stores, convenience Bars, grocery stores, convenience

stores and liquor storesstores and liquor stores Fake IDsFake IDs

IS IT OK TO LET TEENS DRINK IS IT OK TO LET TEENS DRINK AT HOME?AT HOME?

NO!NO! It is illegal- parents can be arrestedIt is illegal- parents can be arrested It is condoning underage drinkingIt is condoning underage drinking Too much alcohol can lead to alcohol Too much alcohol can lead to alcohol

poisoningpoisoning Teen’s brains are still developing and Teen’s brains are still developing and

alcohol can have a toxic effect alcohol can have a toxic effect

UNDERAGE DRINKINGUNDERAGE DRINKING Affects school performanceAffects school performance Increases risk of depressionIncreases risk of depression May cause brain damageMay cause brain damage Associated with unprotected sexAssociated with unprotected sex Impaired driving crashes are a major Impaired driving crashes are a major

cause of death for teenscause of death for teens

BINGE DRINKINGBINGE DRINKING

Increased Risks:Increased Risks: AssaultAssault RapeRape Alcohol poisoningAlcohol poisoning Car crashesCar crashes DrowningDrowning SuicideSuicide Injuries and fallsInjuries and falls

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ALCOHOL FACTSALCOHOL FACTS

45% of high school students drink45% of high school students drink 23% binge drink23% binge drink 25% of middle school students drink25% of middle school students drink 8% binge drink8% binge drink 19% of high school students went to 19% of high school students went to

school high or drunkschool high or drunk

Source: Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey 2004Source: Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey 2004

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IMPAIRED DRIVING FACTSIMPAIRED DRIVING FACTS

7,135 DUI arrests in 20057,135 DUI arrests in 2005 482 DUI arrests in 18 to 20 year olds482 DUI arrests in 18 to 20 year olds Impaired 18 to 20 year old drivers Impaired 18 to 20 year old drivers

caused 12.8% of the alcohol-related caused 12.8% of the alcohol-related crashes in 2003- but this age group crashes in 2003- but this age group made up only 4.6% of licensed made up only 4.6% of licensed drivers drivers

59 alcohol-related fatalities in 200559 alcohol-related fatalities in 2005 Source: HCSO and Florida DHSMVSource: HCSO and Florida DHSMV

DRINKING LAWSDRINKING LAWS Minimum drinking age is 21Minimum drinking age is 21 Purchase and possession Purchase and possession

under age 21 is illegal, fine up under age 21 is illegal, fine up to $500 and 60 days in jailto $500 and 60 days in jail

DUI- BAC .08- Possible jail DUI- BAC .08- Possible jail time, DUI Counterattack time, DUI Counterattack class, fines, court fees, lose class, fines, court fees, lose license, high risk insurancelicense, high risk insurance

Zero Tolerance: driver under Zero Tolerance: driver under age 21 with .02 BAC- 6 month age 21 with .02 BAC- 6 month Driver’s License suspensionDriver’s License suspension

MORE DRINKING LAWSMORE DRINKING LAWS Open container in carOpen container in car Open container in street or parkOpen container in street or park Providing alcohol to youth under 21Providing alcohol to youth under 21 Selling alcohol to minorSelling alcohol to minor Open house partyOpen house party Intoxicated and disorderlyIntoxicated and disorderly Fake IDFake ID ALL ILLEGAL!ALL ILLEGAL!

FAMILYFAMILY 1 in 4 children are exposed to family 1 in 4 children are exposed to family

alcoholism or alcohol abuse at homealcoholism or alcohol abuse at home Children of alcoholics are at higher Children of alcoholics are at higher

risk of developing alcohol abuserisk of developing alcohol abuse Children are less likely to drink if Children are less likely to drink if

they are bonded to parentsthey are bonded to parents Adolescents have fewer alcohol-Adolescents have fewer alcohol-

related problems when parents related problems when parents provide supervision and disciplineprovide supervision and discipline

WHAT CAN A PARENT DO?WHAT CAN A PARENT DO? Open communicationOpen communication Show you care Show you care Offer praise for good behaviorOffer praise for good behavior Set clear rules and curfewsSet clear rules and curfews Set a NO alcohol or drug use policySet a NO alcohol or drug use policy Establish consequences and enforce themEstablish consequences and enforce them Be a good role modelBe a good role model Inventory and secure alcoholic beveragesInventory and secure alcoholic beverages

ALCOHOL FREE PARTIESALCOHOL FREE PARTIES Set ground rulesSet ground rules Don’t allow uninvited guestsDon’t allow uninvited guests Plan fun activitiesPlan fun activities If a guest brings alcohol- make him/ If a guest brings alcohol- make him/

her leaveher leave Serve plenty of snacks and non-Serve plenty of snacks and non-

alcoholic drinksalcoholic drinks Be visible and availableBe visible and available

ALCOHOL FREE KIDSALCOHOL FREE KIDS

Encourage Activities:Encourage Activities: Sports and recreational activitiesSports and recreational activities Church activitiesChurch activities Club participationClub participation EmploymentEmployment School attendance and good gradesSchool attendance and good grades VolunteeringVolunteering

RESISTANCE SKILLSRESISTANCE SKILLS

Teach your child:Teach your child: How to say no to alcoholHow to say no to alcohol Refuse to ride with an impaired driverRefuse to ride with an impaired driver To stay away from people and places To stay away from people and places

that expose them to alcoholthat expose them to alcohol How to leave a party where alcohol How to leave a party where alcohol

and drugs are being usedand drugs are being used To be a good influence on peersTo be a good influence on peers

DO YOU KNOW?DO YOU KNOW? Where your child is?Where your child is? Is it a safe environment?Is it a safe environment? Who is she with?Who is she with? Is there adequate adult supervision?Is there adequate adult supervision? What is he is doing?What is he is doing? Is alcohol available?Is alcohol available? Do you know your child’s friends and Do you know your child’s friends and

their parents?their parents?

WHEN YOUR CHILD COMES WHEN YOUR CHILD COMES HOME FROM A NIGHT OUTHOME FROM A NIGHT OUT

Greet your child at the doorGreet your child at the door Give him a hugGive him a hug Notice unusual behaviorsNotice unusual behaviors Is she trying to avoid eye contact?Is she trying to avoid eye contact? Observe eyes- are they red, are Observe eyes- are they red, are

eyelids droopy, are pupils dilated or eyelids droopy, are pupils dilated or constricted?constricted?

Detect odors (alcohol, marijuana)Detect odors (alcohol, marijuana)

MY CHILD CAME HOME DRUNK- MY CHILD CAME HOME DRUNK- WHAT SHOULD I DO?WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Get medical attention for child if Get medical attention for child if neededneeded

Don’t have a conversation with them Don’t have a conversation with them until morning or when soberuntil morning or when sober

Determine source of the alcoholDetermine source of the alcohol When the child is sober, say you love When the child is sober, say you love

him and will not allow drinkinghim and will not allow drinking Enforce appropriate consequencesEnforce appropriate consequences

MY CHILD NEEDS HELPMY CHILD NEEDS HELP

Educate yourself about alcohol on-line:Educate yourself about alcohol on-line: www.health.orgwww.health.org www.tampatac.comwww.tampatac.com Call the Hillsborough County Help Line at Call the Hillsborough County Help Line at

211 or 813-234-1234211 or 813-234-1234 Get a substance abuse counselorGet a substance abuse counselor Referral to a treatment agencyReferral to a treatment agency

GET INVOLVEDGET INVOLVED Meet your child’s teachersMeet your child’s teachers Monitor school workMonitor school work Attend your child’s sports eventsAttend your child’s sports events Attend school activities for parentsAttend school activities for parents Join the PTAJoin the PTA Network with other parentsNetwork with other parents Join the Tampa Alcohol Coalition Join the Tampa Alcohol Coalition

www.tampatac.comwww.tampatac.com and and the Anti Drug Alliance the Anti Drug Alliance www.hcada.comwww.hcada.com

ALCOHOL ENVIRONMENTALCOHOL ENVIRONMENT

TV and radio alcohol adsTV and radio alcohol ads Sponsors of sport eventsSponsors of sport events Happy hour signsHappy hour signs Alcohol billboardsAlcohol billboards Drinking actors in moviesDrinking actors in movies Alcohol at fairs and eventsAlcohol at fairs and events Community alcohol normsCommunity alcohol norms Alcohol law enforcementAlcohol law enforcement

ENVIRONMENTAL PREVENTIONENVIRONMENTAL PREVENTIONEXAMINE YOUR COMMUNITY:EXAMINE YOUR COMMUNITY:

Alcohol advertisementsAlcohol advertisements Beer and liquor billboardsBeer and liquor billboards Alcohol laws and policiesAlcohol laws and policies Enforcement of alcohol lawsEnforcement of alcohol laws Community norms toward underage Community norms toward underage

drinkingdrinking Underage access to alcoholUnderage access to alcohol Drink specials- Ladies Drink FreeDrink specials- Ladies Drink Free