Parents: Do Not Provide Alcohol To Underage Youth

Spring is a time of great celebration for young people -- spring break, proms and graduations. It's a time when parents are challenged to host the ultimate party for their child. It's a time when many young people expect to use and abuse alcohol at parties.

This expectation puts great pressure on parents to provide alcohol or permit access to it. But the consequences of allowing kids to drink could be disastrous.

A parent provided alcohol for his son and high school friends at a New Year's Eve party. After leaving the party, one intoxicated partygoer was killed and another seriously hurt after their car struck a tree. The parent hosting the party was fined $3,000 for providing alcohol to minors and is facing a wrongful death civil suit. He will regret hosting that party for the rest of his life.

In addition to great risk of injury, the consequences to young people for underage drinking can be severe. To name a few, they include suspension from school and extracurricular activities, revoking one's driver's license, and greatly increased auto insurance rates.

Parents who host parties need to be aware of their responsibilities and the potential problems of providing alcohol to minors. Two myths seem to feed tolerant parental attitudes about alcohol use.

First, some adults, especially the baby boomer parents, don't think of alcohol as a drug. They view it as "better than" using other drugs, said Doug Johnson, the Washington County attorney in Minnesota and former chief of the Juvenile Division for 12 years. "For each kid we send to treatment for drug abuse, we send 100 kids for alcohol abuse. The attitude of parents is, 'I have to keep my kid off drugs, so let them drink.'" Alcohol is an addictive, mood-altering chemical that is potentially more dangerous than any other drug.

The second myth is that drinking by underage kids is safer when done at home. "We need to debunk the logic that parents are protecting their kids by allowing them to drink or providing alcohol in the home," said Kay Provine, prevention specialist at Hazelden. "Parents tell themselves the kids are going to drink anyway, so let's try to control it." But controlling the amount of alcohol and the behaviors of drinkers is virtually impossible. Kids drink to become intoxicated. When this happens young people get out of control -- they become more violent, sexually active, belligerent. They do things that can destroy lives.

The reasons to not provide alcohol are many. First, alcohol consumption for any youth under the age of 21 is illegal in the United States. The only exception to this in Minnesota, for instance, is that a youth may consume alcohol in the home with a parents permission. Laws vary by state, but in Minnesota, providing alcohol to minors is a gross misdemeanor punishable by a $3,000 fine and/or up to one year in prison. A civil suit for damages may result in "parents losing everything they own," added Provine.

In addition, research shows that the earlier young people start drinking, the more likely they are to become clinically diagnosed as alcoholic.

Parents are poor role models if they reinforce the idea that alcohol and other drug use is a necessary and accepted way to entertain at parties. Kids need to know how to have fun without alcohol. Parents need to talk with their children about alcohol before hosting a party. They can be responsible hosts by setting a no-alcohol rule. Provine suggested that parents greet kids at the door, make certain that no uninvited guests are allowed in, check in on the party frequently, and not allow guests to come and go. Parents should never leave the party unattended.

The situation that most frequently results in problems is when parties are held while parents are away for the weekend, said Johnson. The word travels fast about such parties, and before you know it the party is out of control, with hundreds of uninvited guests.

Rules and expectations need to be clearly spelled out with young people before drinking opportunities present themselves. Young people need to be prepared to say no to alcohol in advance of drinking opportunities. Parents need to help them choose parties where there will be no alcohol. Parents need to deliver a clear message: Alcohol and other drug use of any kind is not acceptable.

--Published Feb. 28, 2000




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Alive & Free is a health column that provides information to help prevent substance abuse problems and address such problems. It is created by Hazelden, a nonprofit agency based in Center City, Minn., that offers a wide range of information and services on addiction. For more resources, email or call Hazelden at 800-257-7810 (outside the US 651-213-4200).
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T Lewis~~