What’s the solution to underage drinking?
April 23rd, 2007 by 
colson
Every spring the problems associated with underage drinking seem to intensify with events including the high school prom and graduation.
Brandon this spring has seen the arrest of more than a dozen young people at a house party and another arrest for an adult providing alcohol to juveniles.
Groups have stepped in to try to prevent the problems with a public awareness campaign and an after prom party to give kids an alternative to drinking.
It’s unclear whether than message gets through. Every year the same problems seem to spring up along with the warmer weather and special events.
The solutions appear to be evasive.
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April 23rd, 2007 at 4:34 pm
I saw a story on TV about a docudrama they did in Flandreau. They seem very realistic and the kids are exposed to the “what if.” I also wish we could haul them all in to the ER and make them watch the horrific things that happen to accident victims.
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Here’s a few suggestions that come to my mind:
Parents can cut back on their own alcohol intake, or quit altogether, in order to set a good example.
Parents can make it clear to their children that if they ever catch them breaking the law in any way (including underage drinking) they will not hesitate to drive their kids to the police station themselves. And then be absolutely prepared to follow through on that statement.
Parents can meet their kids’ friends and the parents of their kids’ friends, so they know what kind of crowd their kids hang with.
Parents can set limits at home for all kinds of things, from bedtimes to chores to dress code and any number of other things. And then parents can shell out consequences for not complying, so that kids get used to having to answer for their actions. It’s best if parents can start doing this when their children are quite small, and continue throughout their formative years. But hey, better late than never.
That’s my two cents, for what it’s worth.
April 23rd, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Very nice Alica, I agree. I think #1 is a fabulous idea, along with the others of course.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Parents! Parents have to be willing to put their foot down. The parental attitude, “We did when we were their age” is getting young people hurt. Kids are not mature enough to drink, that’s why there are laws. Law enforcement and schools educate and provide consequences for underage drinking, but if mom and dad even partially condone it (e.g. an “adult supervised party”) that message is lost.