The stress of last-minute shopping.
Planning holiday meals.
That daunting date on your calendar: December 25th.
Preventing your teen from drinking alcohol during the holiday season is probably the last thing on your mind right now. But did you know that the months teens are most likely to use alcohol for the first time are June, July, December, and January?1
Not surprisingly, these are the times of the year that kids are out of school with more free time and possibly less supervision from their parents.1 Through peer reviewed research and focus groups with local Cortland County Parents, we’ve also identified holiday meals as an occasion where parents may allow their teens to drink alcohol.2 Underage drinking can negatively impact your teen’s schoolwork, athletics, and mental health.
One of the number one ways we can prevent underage drinking in Cortland County is not allowing teens to access alcohol at home. This is especially important during the holidays when more alcohol may be available in your home than normal.
How to Reduce Access to Alcohol at Home:3
- Have a reliable system to track your alcohol inventory or a liquor cabinet that locks.
- Have clear family rules about alcohol use and discuss them with your kids.
- Monitor teen gatherings.
Since people are unable to gather right now due to COVID-19, many of you are not even considering the thought of allowing your teen to host or attend a holiday party with friends. However, if you do host a teen party these safety tips can protect your child from alcohol use, as well as limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community. 4
It is important to have these tips in your back pocket in case you are faced with monitoring a teen gathering during the holidays or anytime in the future. These also apply to smaller teen gatherings!
Teen Party Safety Tips:3
- Follow CDC Covid-19 guidelines including; not allowing people experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to attend, requiring masks, having hand sanitizer available and maintaining 6 feet of distance.4
- Talk with your teen about rules for the party prior to the event.
- Make a guest list with your child and stick to it.
- Be open to talking with other parents about the event and rules if they reach out.
- Have a set end time for the party.
- Be visible, but don’t crash the party!
- Create a “party area” and lock rooms that are not in this designated area.
- Have a room for coats, keys, purses etc. that can be monitored or locked.
- Notify other parents if their child brings alcohol or appears to be under the influence.
- Do not allow anyone who may have drank alcohol to leave the party alone or drive.
- Have a plan for what would happen if someone is injured or becomes sick.
In 2019, 90% Cortland County 7th-12th graders did not get alcohol at home with their parents’ permission. Join other parents in Cortland County and commit to reducing underage drinking in our community. Sign our parent pledge today!
References:
1. Monthly Variation in Substance Use Initiation Amongst Adolescents. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH080/NSDUH080/SR080InitiationSubstanceUse2012.pdf
2. Friese B, Grube JW, Moore RS, Jennings VK. Parents Rules about Underage Drinking: A Qualitative Study of Why Parents Let Teens Drink. Journal of Drug Education. 2012;42(4):379-391. doi:10.2190/de.42.4.a.
3. Make a Difference: Talk to your child about alcohol-Parents. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/make-a-difference-child-alcohol
4. Considerations for Events and Gatherings. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/considerations-for-events-gatherings.html
