CONTACT US     

5 Ways to Deal With Teens and Alcohol Over the Holidays

Yes, we all want to be merry around the holidays. We want to celebrate or forget the past year, hope for the best for the coming year and celebrate the holidays themselves. The last thing we want to bring to the proverbial holiday table is a dish of teen troubles. There is a lot of alcohol around during the holidays. The alcohol is often right near the soda or other drinks at get-togethers... or even near the milk in the fridge.

Yes, often, teens tell me that they get their alcohol at home. I am worried about teens having easier access to alcohol during the holidays and THAT leading to a number of problems including: car accidents, aggression, and bad judgment when making decisions, impulsive and reckless behavior and getting injured and/or overdosing.

So, what's a parent to do?

  1. Monitor the amount of alcohol in your home.
  2. Monitor your own level of alcohol intake. Your kids are watching you.
  3. Let your kids know that if there is even a suggestion that they may be drinking, and especially drinking and driving, that you will take the car keys away.
  4. Check backpacks as they leave your house and as they arrive home. Teens often use the trick of putting alcohol in their water bottles.
  5. Be awake and around to see what kind of condition your kids are in when they arrive home at night. While you are at it, check to see what their breath smells like.

Holidays may be a time for you and your kids to celebrate and be merry, but it is certainly not a time to lower your guard and let the alcohol flow. Watch yourself and your kids. There are all kinds of wonderful ways to have fun without drinking to excess.

Have a happy, safe holiday season!

By Barbara Greenberg, Ph.D.




Close
HOME ABOUT US PROGRAMS RESOURCES WHAT'S NEW SPONSORS
September Message

"Talk. They Hear You." Application

Practice talking to your kids about the dangers of alcohol.

Prepare for one of the most important conversations you may ever have with your kids about underage drinking. SAMHSA’s “Talk. They Hear You.” app is available on desktop computers and on the go from the App Store SM (link is external) , Google Play™ (link is external) , the Windows ® Store (link is external) , and Windows ® Phone Store (link is external) .

About the "Talk. They Hear You." App

The app features an interactive simulation that helps you learn the do's and don'ts of talking to kids about underage drinking. Using avatars, you will:

  • Practice bringing up the topic of alcohol

  • Learn the questions to ask

  • Get ideas for keeping the conversation going

Explore the desktop version of this app. (link is external) This requires the free Unity Web Player plugin (link is external) . Learn more about goals for this important conversation and find other tips and information about helping to prevent underage drinking on the Parent Resources page.

Please click on our What’s New Tab for more useful information, videos, and links.



Fairfield Municipal Alliance Committee