Almost half of the sales of "alcopops," that is, soft drinks laden with alcohol, involve consumers who are not old enough to legally drink alcohol. Now some state legislatures are passing laws to restrict the sale of alcopops to retailers that are licensed to sell beer, wine, and liquor. Alcopops are currently on sale at convenience stores and other outlets that are licensed only for beer.

A recent poll by the American Medical Association found that one in six teenage girls became sexually active after consuming alcopops. The same poll discovered that one in four drove or rode in cars with drivers who had been drinking. The AMA and other groups are lobbying against the sale of such drinks to minors.

Labels: alcopops, marketing, underage_drinking

According to a new study from Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), teens who own alcohol-branded apparel (T-shirts and hats that display the logos of alcohol makers) are more likely to start drinking and become binge drinkers.

Lead researcher Dr. Auden C. McClure, a pediatrician at DHMC in Hanover, New Hampshire, commented on the findings, saying, "Ownership of these items is associated with susceptibility to alcohol use and binge drinking. ... But it is also a direct link with susceptibility and initiation to drinking ... you can't say any longer that these items are just a marker of kids who drink."

According to Dr. McClure, approximately 3 million youth own alcohol-branded merchandise. The study surveyed 6,522 adolescents, ages 10 to 14, about drinking behaviors and susceptibility; the respondents also participated in three follow-up surveys. The study found that of alcohol-branded items owned by youth, 75 percent were beer brands. In addition, most of the items were purchased for the teens by friends and family (71 percent). (Source: www.forbes.com)

Labels: marketing, underage_drinking

Can drinking as a teenager raise your tolerance for alcohol as an adult? A study from Baylor University found that premise held true for animals.

Researchers found that rats that had been exposed to moderate levels of alcohol in adolescence had higher tolerances five years later.

Author Dr. Douglas Matthews said, "The body and brain are still developing and this shows that even moderate levels of alcohol can have harmful effects."

The study was published in the journal Alcohol.

Labels: alcohol, tolerance, underage_drinking

A report published online in the January 2009 issue of Addiction highlights a new phenomenon among young drinkers called "pre-drinking." Pre-drinking is the act of gathering in a private setting (usually someone's home) to drink heavily before going to a public place like a club or sporting event. Pre-drinking is intended to allow young people to get drunk as cheaply as possible and to maximize fun during public outings.

The authors of the report question whether current alcohol policy (banning happy hours at bars, for instance) is reinforcing this behavior and a "new culture of intoxication" in which young people drink with the singular goal of getting drunk. The authors of the report found that pre-drinkers were more likely to ingest large quantities of alcohol more rapidly, and to experience negative outcomes in association with drinking. (Source: sciencedaily.com)

Labels: binge_drinking, pre-drinking, underage_drinking

A large study of teenagers found that their four social systems - family, school, neighborhood and peers - influence whether they abuse alcohol.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina and the University of California surveyed 6,544 students every six months from grades 6 to 8 through grades 8 to 10. They found that the four systems interact to influence a young person's choices about using alcohol. For example, if parents carefully supervised their pre-teen, the child was less likely to follow the examples of peers who drank. However, if parents abused alcohol or if there were conflicts in the family, the child was more likely to drink with peers.

The more often that teens observed someone in their networks drinking, the more likely they were to follow suit.

This study appeared in the journal Child Development.

Labels: peer-pressure, social_system, underage_drinking

Adolescents who drink or use drugs before they turn 15 are more likely to fail in school, become dependent on drugs or alcohol, be convicted of a crime, contract a sexually transmitted disease, and face an unwanted pregnancy. This is true whether they come from "good" homes or abusive ones.

Duke University psychologists Dr. Avshalom Caspi and Terri Moffitt worked with colleagues in New Zealand and Britain to analyze data on 1,000 New Zealanders from birth through age 32. Half of the subjects in the study were from stable backgrounds, and half came from families with histories of alcoholism, drug abuse, and crime. The study focused on preteens who regularly abused drug or alcohol, not those who were merely experimenting a few times.

The ones without risk factors who used drugs and alcohol prior to age 15 were 3.6 times more likely to be drug dependent by age 32. A third of the females in this group were pregnant before age 21.

Among the girls from problematical backgrounds who used drugs and alcohol before age 15, two-thirds got pregnant before age 21.

Both groups had more health problems as adults.

"These findings challenge certain perceptions regarding teens and drug and alcohol use," said Professor Dan Nagin, one of the study's co-authors. "For example, the idea that we shouldn't be concerned when teens abuse drugs and alcohol, because the kids are just experimenting. It's clear from this data that early exposure to drugs and alcohol can make even a good kid veer off on a bad trajectory."

The study appeared in the journal Psychological Science.

Labels: long_term_drug_use, teen_drug_use, underage_drinking

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal and dangerous. Every parent and teenager knows that. The statistics are easy to find, as are the tragic stories of teenagers who were killed or who caused the deaths of others because they were driving while intoxicated or high.

But what many parents may not know is just how much influence they can have over their teenager's behaviors, including issues of drinking and driving.

A study conducted by Liberty Mutual and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) found that teens whose parents set clear driving expectations and consequences were far less likely to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Of the teens that have never driven under the influence of drugs or alcohol, 78 percent say their parents follow through on consequences when driving rules are broken.

The media often paints a picture of teenagers as outright rebellious people who are going do the exact opposite of what you ask, simply as a way of exerting their independence. But that picture is wholly inaccurate. While teens do want increased independence, and are more likely to take risks, they also historically have respected and obeyed rules set by parents who adhere to consequences for broken rules. Numerous studies and discussions with teenagers have found that teens who have good relationships and open communication with their parents are more influenced by their parents than their peers.

Consider these statistics from SADD's website:

"Teens whose parents establish clear consequences for breaking family driving rules are less likely to drive with three or more passengers in a car (36 percent vs. 42 percent) or eat or drink while driving (31 percent vs. 40 percent) than are their counterparts who do not have any clear consequences set.

Teens say parents who set expectations with clear consequences for them about breaking the law while driving are less likely to have driven under the influence of alcohol (16 percent vs. 29 percent), marijuana (14 percent vs. 18 percent) or other drugs (6 percent vs. 11 percent) than are teens whose parents do not set an consequences."

Studies have also shown that a parent's own behavior while behind the wheel goes a long way in affecting the driving behavior of a teenage child. Not only do children notice their parent's behavior when they're in the car, they take behavioral cues from conversations as well. So a parent's own attitudes about driving (including driving under the influence) will affect the decisions a child makes. If a teen hears his mom off-handedly remark that she "only had one drink" before driving home, he's likely to translate that into "then it's ok if I drive, too, after having one or two drinks."

Other forms of risky driving by parents can also affect a teen's behavior behind the wheel. A parent may not drink and drive, but he or she may speed, drive without a seatbelt, or eat while driving. These types of behaviors communicate to teens that risk-taking, as it relates to driving, is acceptable, which may be all he or she needs to justify driving under the influence.

In light of all this information, parents who are concerned that their teenage children might drink and then get behind the wheel of a car should focus on three things: 1) developing a healthy relationship with their child that includes open, honest communication; 2) setting and following through on driving rules and consequences; and 3) their own attitudes and behaviors about driving. While these steps won't guarantee that teens won't drink and drive, the chances are greatly reduced.

Labels: drunk driving, dui, underage_drinking

An Arkansas state panel has recommended that alcoholic beverages like Mike's Hard Lemonade be categorized as hard liquor and sold only in liquor stores rather than grocery stores or gas stations. The task force also recommended raising sales taxes on the beverages.

"The recommendations, six in all, are designed to attack underage drinking because alcohol is generally the first drug young people try and is considered 'the premiere gatekeeper' to illegal drug use, Arkansas Drug Director Fran Flener said."

Other recommendations included keeping the state's minimum drinking age at 21 and enforcing its social host liability law, which holds individuals responsible when underage drinking occurs on their property. Source: Arkansas News Bureau

Labels: alcohol_sales, teenage_drinking, underage_drinking

In Port St. Joe, Florida, a group of parents and teenagers gathered to discuss the dangers of teenage drinking. The town-hall-style meeting was coordinate and hosted by the Gulf County Substance Abuse Coalition.

"In the coalition's third town hall meeting this year, participants shared their thoughts on such topics as why students drink, where they obtain alcohol, the consequences of drinking and law enforcement's response. Teens and adults divided into separate discussion groups and reunited at meeting's end to review the responses."

Six teenagers attended the meeting and told adults that most teens get alcohol from friends or other people who are 21 or older. They also warned parents and teachers that drinking during school hours is more prevalent than they realize. Source: The Star (Gulf County, FL)

Labels: alcohol_abuse, schools, underage_drinking

A recent U.S. study set out to discover whether sports stadiums sell alcohol to underage drinkers. Researchers discovered that many do.

"Nearly one in five people posing as underage drinkers, and three out of four people pretending to be drunk fans were able to buy alcoholic beverages at professional sporting events, according to the findings, published Wednesday in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research."

The study sent decoys into 16 sports stadiums in five states where they tried to buy alcohol both in the stands and at a booth. For most, buying alcohol in the stands was easier. Source: Whistler Magazine

Labels: alcohol_abuse, alcohol_sales, underage_drinking

Drinking and partying, according to many, is just "part of the college experience." And some believe that the 21-year-old drinking age keeps collegiate alcohol use hidden and hard to deal with, so they're proposing lowering the legal age to 18 years old.

"MADD [Mothers Against Drunk Driving] is urging parents to reconsider the safety of schools whose presidents want to re-evaluate the 21-year-old drinking age..."

Studies have shown that up to 40 percent of college students have some symptoms of alcohol abuse. One educator believes that problem won't be eliminated by a lower drinking age. Source: WWAY3 News Channel (Wilmington, NC)

Labels: binge_drinking, drinking_age, underage_drinking

On an average day, 13,000 teens and pre-teens try alcohol for the first time. Studies have shown that people who start drinking at age 15 are four times more likely to become alcohol-dependent than are those who wait until they're 21.

"The sky is falling on our teens and young adults, and there is plenty of responsibility to go around: from permissive parents who think it's better to have their teens drink at home than risk drunk driving to colleges and universities turning a blind eye to ever-increasing binge drinking on campuses and at local bars."

The National Center of Addiction and Substance Abuse found that alcohol misuse cost the United States $220 billion in 2005; more than the cost of cancer or childhood obesity. Now that summer is in full swing, teens have a lot more free time, and parents have the responsibility of making sure that time is used well. Source: The Free Lance-Star

Learn more by reading Higher Risks in Early Drinkers.

Labels: addiction, binge_drinking, underage_drinking

Law enforcement officials in Placer County, California, have launched a new campaign titled "Parents Who Host Lose the Most" aimed at increasing awareness about the dangers of underage drinking - both for adolescents and the adults who supply the liquor.

"According to a survey conducted by the American Medical Association, 26 percent of parents in the United States with children aged 12 to 26 agree that teens should be able to drink at home with their parents present. A quarter of those parents admitted to allowing their children to drink at home."

Studies have found that the younger a person is when he starts drinking, the more likely he is to develop alcohol dependence later in life. Most states also have laws in place that prosecute adults who provide alcohol to underage kids, including their own. Source: News10 Sacramento

The effects of underage drinking can last long into adulthood. Learn more at DrugRehabTreatment.com.

Labels: parental_involvement, role_models, underage_drinking

An underage drinking prevention program was recently run in a rural area of Minnesota, as well as more urban areas of Florida. Though the program was exactly the same, the two areas saw very different results.

"...at the end of the study, year-end surveys showed no difference in alcohol use among the teens [in urban areas] who took part in the project and those who did not... One particular problem surfaced during the community component of the project. The organizers struggled to rally some community members around the cause, often having to explain why they should be concerned about adolescent alcohol use."

One positive find of the urban study was that family interventions had a more significant impact than any other aspect of the program. Researchers also found that young people's ability to buy alcohol was reduced by 64 percent in neighborhoods where community teams asked stores not to sell alcohol to underage kids. Read more at HealthNewsDigest.com.

Underage drinking can lead to a variety of problems, including academic failures and trouble with the law. If your teen is drinking and would benefit from a safe, structured, sober environment, then SunHawk Academy in Utah is a good options. SunHawk offers a private boarding school programs with accredited academics, counseling and therapy, and daily 12-step meetings.

Labels: interventions, prevention, underage_drinking

Community leaders, doctors, law enforcement officials, school personnel, and doctors gathered together in Lafayette, Colo., to discuss the current state of underage drinking. The panel was one of hundreds that took place across the country.

"[Leisha Conners-Bauer] said a 2005 survey of Boulder Valley School District students found that while 70 percent to 75 percent of all high school students said they think there is harm involved in drinking alcohol frequently, and as many as 90 percent said they know their parents would disapprove of them drinking, most students still think it's OK to drink in moderation."

Many experts on the panel expressed concern over this viewpoint, citing the likelihood that someone who begins drinking at a young age is at a much higher risk for alcohol dependence than an adult. Read more at DailyCamera.com.

Labels: acceptance, risky_behaviors, underage_drinking

The New London Community & Campus Coalition has introduced a plan intended to increase community involvement in preventing underage drinking. The coalition is concerned that parents in this Connecticut town don't take adolescent drinking seriously.

"'They don't look at it as an issue generally. They don't talk about it in the same way they might about sex or other issues,' [Tony] Mollica said. Alarmingly... an overwhelming majority of teens are getting alcohol at home or from a friend - approximately 94 percent."

As part of the coalition's strategic plan, it will host a "community conversation" to encourage parents and teen to talk about the dangers of underage drinking. Read more at TheDay.com.

Labels: awareness, prevention, underage_drinking

The holiday season is a festive time. But the family and social gatherings often include alcohol, which is fine for adults but poses a problem for teenagers.

"Teenagers or younger children may view these parties as opportunities to sneak alcohol, spike their soda when nobody is looking, or convince a relative to assist them in getting an alcoholic beverage. Some parents, feeling it is part of the holiday spirit, may be more inclined to let their teenagers have an alcoholic drink to share in a family toast."

But numerous studies have shown that the earlier someone begins to drink, the higher the chances that he or she will have alcohol-related problems later in life. Consider keeping alcohol to a minimum at holiday gatherings, and make sure friends and relatives know that they're not to give alcohol to anyone who's underage.

Labels: alcohol, holidays, underage_drinking

Thanksgiving eve is commonly considered one of the biggest drinking nights of the year. Across the country, police and sheriff's departments will be issuing warnings about the dangers of drinking and driving.

"Much of the drinking tonight will be by college students returning home for the holiday and spending time at bars with friends, officials said during a press conference at the Calhoun County Sheriff's Department in Battle Creek."

Members of the Substance Abuse Council are using today as a platform to warn against underage drinking. Most studies have found that the earlier someone begins to drink, the more likely he or she will struggle with addiction later in life.

Don't waste your teen's winter break - use the time off from school to help your child get back on track. Check out the winter break program at Aspen Achievement Academy.

Labels: addiction, drunk_driving, underage_drinking

A new study by Health Canada concludes that parents tolerate drinking older teens but worry if their children start drinking before they are fifteen years old.

"A key transition point" occurs when young people enter high school, according to the authors of the study, which involved focus groups of teens and their parents in Winnipeg, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec and British Columbia.

The Health Canada report indicates that parents of older teens believe drinking is an acceptable part of their children's lives. A small number of parents buy alcohol and host drinking parties in their homes for their teenagers.

A good residential treatment center like SunHawk Academy can help with teen substance abuse.

Labels: alcohol, parents, underage_drinking

It's a common opinion, but one that can't be repeated too often. We need to keep teens and alcohol as separate from each other as possible, and everyone - from law enforcement to parents and teens themselves - share in the responsibility.

"Those who would minimize their own responsibility by assigning it to other or claiming that concern over the problem has been blown out of proportion should face facts: Approximately 20 percent of 13-year-olds admit they've used alcohol at least once, and often they're able to do it because parents not only ignore what their kids are doing but actually supply the drinks."

It's important for members of the community to work together in addressing under-age drinking.

Labels: community_programs, prevention, underage_drinking

The cities of Hudson Falls and Glens Falls, New York, have received state grants which will help them target merchants who sell alcohol to adolescents under the age of twenty-one.

"Hudson Falls Deputy Police Chief Randy Diamond said the program will not only allow police to check stores and bars to see if they are checking IDs. It also includes additional training for police and store owners as they work to combat the region's underage drinking problem."

Glens Falls had done similar "sting" operations before and found that 100 percent of the bartenders were compliant with the law, as were 85 percent of merchants. Read more at PostStar.com.

Labels: bars, liquor_stores, underage_drinking

The Rockingham Coalition for Youth is working with the New Hampshire State Liquor Commission to warn parents and teens about the dangers of underage drinking. Presentations and drunk driving simulations have been used to show the dangers, but alternatives have been offered as well.

"[Lt. James] Wilson said with prom and graduation season now beginning it would be worthwhile to consider hosting chemical-free parties for youth to attend instead of leaving them to their own devices."

It's estimated that 65% or more of teens who drink get the alcohol from adults. And though some parents think that, since teens are going to drink anyway, it's better to offer them a controlled environment, experts warn that people who start drinking at a young age are much more likely to become addicted. Read more at SeacoastOnline.com.

Learn more about adolescent substance abuse and ways to help teens struggling with drug abuse at DrugRehabTreatment.com.

Labels: influences, parents, underage_drinking

When you talk about teen substance abuse, most people think of marijuana, cocaine, or even heroine. But alcohol is as common among teens as any other drug - maybe more - but it's often overlooked. Some don't think that underage drinking is a "big deal".

"Alcohol is a leading contributor to traffic fatalities, homicides, suicides, and all other accidents among people ages 15-24... Recent research tells us that alcohol consumption by young people damages the developing brain and contributes to the onset of adult drinking problems."

Surprisingly, some parents allow their children to drink at home, thinking it's safer to offer them a controlled environment where they can teach their kids to drink responsibly. Unfortunately, this approach more often increases the likelihood of dangerous behavior. Read more online.

Labels: alcohol, parents, underage_drinking