When navigating the waters of teens and alcohol, it can get tricky being a parent. There is a popular misconception that teens are safer and will have healthier attitudes regarding alcohol, if parents let their teens and teens’ friends drink under their roof. This way they can monitor it. However, allowing underage teens to drink at your house can have serious repercussions for both parents and your teens.
Here are 4 popular myths about parents, teens and alcohol debunked:
Myth: By providing alcohol to teens at home, a parents creates an environment that decreases the risk for drinking problems as a teen and future substance abuse problems.
Truth: The opposite has actually been found to be true. By providing alcohol to teens you are increasing their risk of continued drinking and future problems with substance abuse.
Myth: By being ‘too strict’ with teens in regards to drinking will only cause them to drink more once they are no longer under parental supervision.
Truth: New research by The Partnership Attitude Tracking Study found that teens of parents who had a more relaxed attitude in regards to them drinking alcohol, were more likely to abuse alcohol and other drugs.
Myth: In Europe, parents give teens alcohol at an early age and they learn to drink more responsibly than American teens.
Truth: More European teens report drinking regularly than American teens and a higher percentage report being intoxicated at an earlier age than American teens. There are numerous studies that have shown the earlier in life a teen starts drinking the greater the risk for alcohol-related injuries and substance abuse when they are older.
Myth: As long as it happens in your own home, parents are under no legal jeopardy for serving alcohol to teenagers.
Truth: Most states have legal penalties for any adults who serve alcohol to underage teens even in their own homes.
The Treatment Research Institute and The Partnership at Drugfree.org have launched a new website to help educate parents on the State-by-State penalties for providing alcohol to teens.
