Talking to Teens About Underage Drinking While the summer is a great time for students to rest and relax, boredom and restlessness quickly set in. One factor contributing to teens making poor choices is boredom mixed with unsupervised activities. Experimentation with alcohol, the number one drug of choice for young people, is just one common bad choice with which teens are often faced. In fact, teens use alcohol more frequently and heavily than all other illicit drugs combined. Because alcohol is so accessible, parents must take a proactive stance in talking to their teens about underage drinking. The first step to being proactive is to work hard to obtain and then maintain an open relationship with your teen. Research shows that teens are much more likely to delay drinking when they feel they have a close, supportive tie with a parent or guardian. Another step is to teach your teens to have respect for themselves. In a series of focus groups, teens reported that the best way to persuade them to avoid alcohol is to appeal to their self-respect by letting them know that they are too smart and have too much going for them to need the crutch of alcohol. (collegedrinkingprevention.com) Next, know where your teen is, what they are doing and with whom they are spending time. Teens are much less likely to make bad choices when they know a parent will ask all the details of their comings and goings. Accountability goes a long way in any relationship. The bottom line is that many Christian parents believe their teen would not make the decision to drink. Peer pressure, curiosity, inability to say “no”, boredom, and many other reasons can lead to giving in even among Christian teens. Parents must pray for, fight for, challenge, and encourage their teens in their walk with Christ which is reflected in all areas of their lives.   PulsePulsePulsePulsePulsePulsePulse By looking at these polls, you can get an idea of the general attitude about underage drinking in our society. Should the legal drinking age change to 18 years old? 21% - Yes 79% - No (abcnews.com)    How do you approach the subject of underage drinking with your kids? 6% - We don’t discuss it. They will definitely say “no” if offered. 24% - I am sure they will try a few beers – it’s a rite of passage. 17% - They know they are in big trouble if we catch them. 52% - We talk openly about the dangers of alcohol and limit our own drinking. (familyeducation.com)   What Should I Say? Here are some ideas to help your teen figure out what to say when asked these questions: "Hey, there's a great party tonight! Why don't you come with us?"  It's OK to express appreciation for the invitation to the party or to hang out, but don't be afraid to tell them that you aren't really into the party scene. You can also invite them to an alternative activity. "Why aren't you into the party scene?" This is a great opportunity to share the real reasons you don't want to be a part of drinking. Let them know your security is found in God and your family and you want all that you do to please them. "What is wrong with having a little fun?" Explain to them that you love having fun, but in a way that is still honoring to God and in a way that wouldn't put your future at risk.   THE PARENT POVPoint of View To work on an open relationship with your teen, try asking some of these questions: 1. What are some of your favorite things about summer? What are some of your least favorite things about summer? Why? 2. What are some of the tougher choices you are faced with when it comes to your peers? 3. Do you know anyone your age who drinks or has had alcohol before? Have you ever been pressured to drink? 4. Is there anything I can do to help decrease any pressure you feel from your peers to do things that you don't want to do or that you might want to do, but know that you shouldn't?   GOD AND YOUR FAMILY Pray that: 1. God would give you discernment regarding the pressures to which your teen is exposed and temptations they may have. 2. You would develop and maintain a relationship that thrives on open communication and that you would be just as good at listening as you are at giving advice. 3. Your teen would choose to surround themselves with other teens who love God and who strive to make choices that would be pleasing to God. 4. God would get rid of any pride in you that would lead you to believe that your teen would "never" be tempted to drink.   VERSE OF THE MONTH "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." I Peter 3:15-17 (NIV) Though these verses directly refer to defending our faith, this is a great exhortation for us to make an inner commitment to Christ. Once we know Jesus is the Lord of our lives, our choices should be based on what would please Him rather than what pleases us. Instead of teaching our teens what they should and shouldn't do, let us prayerfully teach them who Christ is and let who He is in their lives direct their choices. Teens model what they are taught. As we pray for our teens to "always be prepared to give an answer", let us be prepared as well!   DID YOU KNOW... * The percentage of students who said they drink alcoholic beverages fell significantly, from 51 percent in 1991 to 43 percent last year in 2005. (camy.org) * Each year, approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die from underage drinking; this includes about 1,900 deaths from motor vehicle crashes, 1,600 homicides, 300 suicides, and hundreds from injuries such as falls, burns, and drownings (1–5). (stopalcoholabuse.com) * Individuals who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to become alcohol dependent than those who begin drinking at age 21. (sadd.org) * Four out of every five (80%) students have consumed alcohol (more than a few sips) by the end of high school. (sadd.org)   TRENDS The informal poll, conducted for Old Navy and Gap on Facebook, the social directory that enables people to share information, asked students across the country what was in their work wardrobe for summer. The winners? More than 31 percent of women said flip flops are the single “must have” item for work this summer, while 38 percent of male students put board shorts atop their list. (gapinc.com)   FilmWatch Little Man - PG-13 For crude & sexual humor, language & drug references. Comedy John Tucker Must Die - PG-13 For sexual content and language. Comedy Lady in the Water - PG-13 For some frightening sequences. Animation