Written by Mariah J. Garratt || Photo by @rawpixel on Unsplash
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Today’s teens have only ever known the age 21 threshold for the purchase of alcohol. However, many parents may still remember pre-Reagan presidency, when legal drinking ages were given far more flexibility. In fact, before the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 was enacted, each state was permitted to set their own standards on the subject.

• February 1933: Congress, backed by the leadership of President Roosevelt, moves to repeal the 18th Amendment, which had enacted Prohibition and made the manufacturing and sale of alcohol illegal.
• 1966: The sale of alcohol is legal in all 50 states once more.
• 1970s & early 1980s: Studies begin to show a pattern of “blood borders” – deadly car crashes occurring when an underage youth would crash on their way back after drinking in a state with a lower drinking age. These highly publicized occurrences heightened concerns and discussion from both parents and advocacy groups.

• 1980s: Research on this time period indicates that if stricter limits were put in place for drivers under the age of 21, over 375 fatal car crashes could have been prevented annually.

• 1984: Congress enacts the Uniform Drinking Age Act, stipulating that all states raise their minimum legal drinking age to 21. For states not complying, federal funding for highway systems is withheld.
  • July 17, 1984: President Ronald Reagan states, “Now, raising that drinking age is not a fad or an experiment. It’s a proven success.”
• 1987: All but 4 states in the United States are covered by the age 21 ruling.
• July 1988: Wyoming becomes the last state to comply with the Uniform Drinking Age Act, putting all 50 states under the age 21 ruling.
• 1991: One study maps the progress that states have made since the introduction of the Uniform Drinking Age Act. Results find…
  • High school seniors residing in MLDA 18 states drank significantly more than in states with an MLDA 21 standard.
  • A higher MLDA was shown to influence a decrease in the number of traffic accidents.
• 2006: Research done by the Department of Psychiatry at the Washington University School of Medicine presents that significant reductions in risk for binge drinking could be traced back to the 1984 bill, particularly noting a decrease for 12–20-year-old males.
• 2007: The US Surgeon General calls for united action between parents, schools, lawmakers, and more to help prevent underage drinking.

• August 22, 2012: Illinois Governor, Pat Quinn, signs a social host law, making parents legally liable for providing alcohol to underage youths. “By putting a social host law on the books,” the Governor stated, “we are sending a strong message to all adults that they will be held responsible when allowing this harmful activity.”

Progress has been made to address this important issue over the past decades. However, a great deal of progress lies ahead in order to better prevent the dangers of underage drinking.

As a parent, help educate your child about the history and reasons behind the age 21 standard today. (Need tips to help start your conversation? Check out our TIP the Scale conversation starters!)

Written by Mariah J. Garratt || Photo by Simon Maage on Unsplash

The phrase “under the influence” can mean more than a state of drunkenness. We all experience a broad range of influences, including those that may potentially drive young people to pick up an alcohol habit. Here is how you can respond to your teen’s pressure points today.


Stress or Social Anxiety — A recent study showed that a third of all teens struggle with stress. For those of-age, one coping strategy might be grabbing a drink after a hard day or to feel relaxed and open in a new social environment.

However, those who do so forget that after liquor’s initial emotional boost fades, the body responds in a sudden drop of serotonin levels, resulting in sad or depressed sensations.

• Your Response: Make sure your teen knows that alcohol should not be seen as a “fix” for their stressors. Mixing stress and alcohol is likely to only aggravate the issue further. (In fact, research shows that 20% of people who deal with social anxiety also have an alcohol abuse or dependence issue.)

Peer pressure — Relationships are an important part of the teenage growing experience. Unfortunately, for many youths this healthy, human desire for closeness can make them all the more susceptible to negative peer pressures.
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These influences can result from both simple observance (implicit) as well as direct experience (explicit). For example, they might watch an older sibling get drunk OR a friend may directly ask them to try drinking. Social media is another proven area of implicit peer pressure for teens.

• Your Response: The false idea that other teens are drinking more than they actually are is one of the most dangerous ways that a teen can be silently peer pressured to drink. Know the real facts and discuss them! Empower your teen with confidence-building and resilience, so that they can stand secure when they face situations of peer pressure.

Genetics — This might come as a surprise, but research has shown that as much as 50% of a child’s likeness to find themselves drawn to alcohol can be attributed to their genetics. If you are aware of a family history with alcohol dependency or addiction, sitting down to talk with your child about alcohol needs to be all the more important.

• Your Response: Instead of sweeping anything under the carpet, try to be as honest and straightforward as possible. Reaffirm that you want what is best for them, and allow them to ask you questions to encourage shared integrity.

Starting a conversation with your teen about each of these three triggers is important. Read TIP the Scale’s easy conversation starters and get talking today!

Written by Mariah J. Garratt || Photo by Andrea Tummons on Unsplash
 
As a parent, seeing your child succeed in life is likely to be a high priority on your list. Unfortunately, encouraging the avoidance of underage drinking while promoting healthy habits and relationships isn’t always an easy task.

Teenagers were proven to experience stress at levels rivaling those of their adult counterparts. As relationships are a large part of the teenage experience, the impact of internal and external peer pressures also holds immense weight.

Confidence​ can essentially act as an immunity shot for the very areas of weakness that can tempt a teen to try drinking in the first place.

Written by Mariah J. Garratt || Photo by JESHOOTS.com on Stock Snap

Even if you and your spouse have rules for your teen about underage drinking, the holiday season can put you in an awkward place with relatives who might not be on the same page.

Whether you decide to serve alcohol for those who are of-age, or agree to eliminate the potential risks altogether, here are a number of ideas to keep in mind.
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Remember: As of 2012, Illinois Governor, Pat Quinn, enacted Social Host Law, shifting legal liability to parents who provide alcohol to underage youth. This can mean upwards of a $500 fine to those found to be providing liquor to minors and even higher consequences for incidents where harm or even death might occur.
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• Step 1: Discuss with of-age family members that you want to set a responsible example for teens. This includes setting a strong standard for all adults to prevent drinking and driving. Your child needs to know it’s never okay to get in the car with someone who is drunk behind the wheel.

 

• Step 2: Especially be certain to have a chat with any newly legal drinkers. Remind them that they are a role model. Also, if they provide alcohol for a younger sibling, friend, or cousin they will be liable.

 

• Step 3: Attempt to establish a shared standard with other parents of teens. Avoid the potential of one child, whose parents may be more lax, being able to influence the rest. Let your child know what your expectations are, even if not all your relatives agree.

 

• Step 4: Think ahead and plan activities so there are not a lot of empty spaces and silence. Keep the energy in the room up so that no one feels the temptation of drinking in order to avoid moments of boredom or social anxiety. (This can be a helpful solution for adults and minors alike!)

 

• Step 5: If you do choose to have alcohol available for those who are of-age, make drinks available for a limited period of time, ideally towards the beginning of the party to avoid anyone driving under the influence. Consider also…
  • Offering mindful servings to your adult consumers to avoid excessive use, which sets a bad example for minors.
  • Keeping any liquor in an area where you know it won’t be snuck away out of sight by minors.

 

• Step 6: If you are the host, you will need to stay sober through the course of the night. Due to Social Host Laws you can be legally liable for the events that take place under your roof.

Don’t let the holiday season make you stressed! Despite the potential awkwardness, know that keeping your child healthy is a gift you can give yourself this year.

In 2016, the Illinois Youth Survey revealed that nearly a third of 12th graders in Iroquois County didn’t think that their parents saw any harm in them drinking. Despite the clear dangerous effects that drinking can have on children including an increased risk of damage to the developing brain, poor decision making, and alcohol use disorder, 32% of teens are under the impression that mom and dad don’t care.

Is this true? Do you care?

At TIP the Scale, we believe that the vast majority of parents don’t agree that their teen should be drinking, but we do believe that many of them haven’t had needed conversations with them about it. If you aren’t engaging your child regularly in conversations about the topic, how are they supposed to know if you approve or disapprove of them drinking?

If you haven’t told them not to drink, it’s fair to assume that they think it’s okay. They may have heard stories about you drinking as a teen. Maybe they see you have a glass of wine or a beer every now and then. Maybe no one has ever told your teen the consequences of drinking. Even if you believe that they shouldn’t be drinking, if they don’t explicitly know it, it’s not having the impact that you’ve intended it to.

Make sure that your teen understands that there are dangers attached to drinking, and that you disapprove of it. This understanding can prevent them from experiencing severe consequences including slipping grades, loss of their driver’s license, and alcohol-related accidents. The first step is to talk with them, and we can help. Visit us at TIPtheScale.org or read Eight Reasons To Talk About Alcohol With Your Teen Today here.

#TIPTruthThursday
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Photo credit:  Gustavo Alves (unsplash.com).

As a parent, sometimes it feels like your child doesn’t listen to anything you say. From telling them to clean up their room only to see it still looking like a mess a day later to trying to discuss something important with them while their eyes are glued to their smartphone – it’s only natural to believe that everything you say goes in one ear and out the other.

If they won’t listen, why even try?

The truth is, they are listening. Believe it or not, over 80% of young people ages 10-18 say that the leading influence on their decision to drink isn’t their friends, teachers, or what they watch on TV – it’s you! So while their room may still be messy and they aren’t going to spend less time on their smartphone, the conversations you have with them about alcohol are highly likely to have an impact on their decision to drink or say no.

When they are asked by a friend at a party if they want a beer or pressured to drink a shot – you will be on their mind. By taking a strong stance against underage drinking and making sure that they know exactly how you feel, you give them a reason to just say no. And while they will never tell you that what you said made them turn down a drink, you can be proud of the fact that you’re having difficult conversations that have the power to improve their lives and help them avoid the many problems that come with underage drinking.
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Have faith in your ability to shape your teen and talk to them about underage drinking. Need help knowing what to say to your teen? We’re here to help. Read 8 Reasons To Talk About Alcohol with Your Teen Today.  For additional Talking/Listening TIPs, visit TIPtheScale.org or follow TIP the Scale’s Facebook page.


Sources:

• samhsa.gov. 2016

In Iroquois County, 61% of high school seniors admit that they have used alcohol in the past year, and 45% of all sophomores say that they have already started drinking alcohol on some level. To go deeper into the statistics, view the Iroquois County Youth Survey Report here.

Discussions about alcohol are not easy, but they are important. By educating your child about the risks and consequences of consuming alcohol, along with alternatives, you can help shape their behaviors. You will also show them exactly where you stand on this topic so they know that you’re not okay with underage drinking. We’re here to help. Here are 6 quick tips for talking about underage drinking with your teen:

• Know the Facts First

Underage drinking is illegal and harmful to a growing body (read more here). Breaking the law and drinking before the age of 21 comes with severe consequences, including large fines, loss of a driver’s license, and it can impact potential scholarships and eligibility to play in high school and college sports.
By understanding the consequences and the risks of underage drinking yourself, you can then share this information with your child, giving them a wider base of information when deciding whether or not to drink.

• Show Them You Care

To your teen, it may feel like you just don’t want them to have fun, which of course is far from the truth. Let your teenager know that you love and care for them, which is why you’re telling them about the dangers of drinking.

• Take Advantage of Opportunities

The most impactful talks between you and your teen don’t have to be planned ahead of time or several hours long. Take advantage of opportunities to talk with them after you see a story on the news related to drinking or while in the car on the way to school. This will help remind them of how you feel about them drinking and keep it on the top of their mind, helping them in situations of peer pressure.

• Sympathize with the Difficulty of Saying No

While you may seem old to your child, you were a teen once too and can empathize with them. Explain that you understand that it’s difficult to say no, especially to friends, but also stress how important it is to make your own decisions and take a stand against what you know is wrong.

• Help Them Develop a Plan

The message “just say no” can work, but in some situations,just saying no isn’t enough. Help your teen develop a plan around saying no and avoiding dangerous situations.
For example, role play where your child is trying to get you to drink. Give alternative suggestions like “why don’t we just go to my house and play video games instead.” By going through scenarios and helping them come up with ideas on how to say no to their friends when it comes to alcohol, you will increase their comfort with approaching this tough situation and make them more likely to avoid drinking because of peer pressure.

• Once Is Not Enough

Your child won’t only be asked once or twice if they want a drink, so a single talk about the subject won’t be enough. The importance of avoiding underage drinking should be an ongoing discussion between you and your teenager. Have regular conversations about the dangers of using alcohol and make sure that they know that it’s not okay, and that they can talk to you about it.
Need additional help? Get more talking and listening TIPS on underage drinking here!