WITH schools closing for the year ahead of the festive season, parents of teenagers need to be vigilant when it comes to underage alcohol consumption.
Research shows that allowing kids to consume alcohol early does not prevent later abuse, something that lenient parents are advised to remember.
Teenagers who drink are far more likely to try illegal drugs.
The same research shows that 67 percent of teens who drink before the age of 15 will go on to use illegal drugs.
They are 22 times more likely to use marijuana and 50 times more likely to use cocaine.
Clinical Psychologists, Sandra Brownrigg and Claire O’Mahony from the Sandton Psychology and Wellness Centre, gave tips on tackling issue of underage alcohol consumption:
Establish your own healthy drinking habits:
O’Mohony says it is vital parents establish healthy drinking habits and explain the impact of underage drinking on young bodies to their children.
‘It is important that parents take into consideration that young children entering into adolescence are at the stage in their life where they are trying to establish how they fit into society and can be easily persuaded,’ she says.
‘Enforce the importance of legal age for alcohol consumption and practice healthy drinking and balance in front of your children.’
Parents must be role models:
Everything in moderation is an important lesson to learn, and this is especially the case with alcohol says Sandra Brownrigg.
‘Binge drinking is typically experimented among teenagers and not knowing their limits is a difficult lesson to have to learn.
‘Role models need to model healthy habits and instil morals around alcohol,’ she says.
‘Adults often say: ‘I’ve had a bad day, I need a drink’, and this teaches young children that alcohol is a coping mechanism and can be seen to be unhealthy and confusing to a child when their role models are only consuming alcohol during hard times.’
The importance of good communication:
‘Talk to your teens about the many effects of alcohol consumption on a young person’s brain. Explain that it can impact long-term memory, cause liver damage, stunt growth and even disturb the hormonal balance necessary for normal development of organs, muscles and bones,’ says O’Mahoney.
‘Good communication is vital; do not wait until your child has used alcohol until you have this discussion with them.’
