I dont drink as I am still a teen and probably wont for a while.But I think its time for real people to have a say about this topic. I hear a lot of the kids my age talk about how they drink whenever they want and how they have easy acess to their parents alchohol. I do not think most parents know what their kids are doing at this age (13 -17) I mean i have had a friend who got pregnant at 14!
2006-07-29 14:26:32 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Beer, Wine & Spirits
As a former Substance Abuse Counselor, who specialized in work with adolescent clients, I believe I am qualified to answer your question. My answer is a resounding "NO".
Most teenagers in America are being raised in single-parent households, without adequate supervision, by persons who are, themselves, walking wounded. It's hard to be a full-time parent when you are juggling a job, other children, forming new significant relationships, and all the other concerns.
Many parents believe that if they put their children into enough activities, their children won't be tempted by alcohol. They couldn't be more wrong.
Education and attitudes about alcohol are learned in the home and carried elsewhere. Attitudes are contagious. If Mom or Dad or Mom or Dad's significant "other" abuses alcohol, their teenagers have a more than 60% probability of abusing alcohol. This also goes toward alcohol being readily available in the home, as well.
Adolescents who become even moderate drinkers prior to age 18 have a much higher probability of becoming alcoholics. Children of alcoholics have a much higher probability of becoming alcoholics.
Until our society learns that alcohol abuse is a symptom of the problem, instead of being the problem, things are bound to get worse. No one gets up one day and says to themselves, "Life is great! My parents love me, our home life is great, I'm successful at school, I have plenty of friends, I like myself and I have great hopes for my future. HMMMM...I think I'll get wasted."
The commercial on TV is right. Parents are the anti-drug. Alcohol is a drug. Nicotine is also a drug. Parents who step up and supervise their children, who know where they are, who they are with, and what they are doing have a better than 75% of raising kids who don't smoke, drink or use drugs. These parents must also hold their children accountable for their behavior. Rules must be enforced in order to work.
As for your friend who was pregnant at 14... don't tell me, she's from a home with an absent Father, her Mom has demonstrated "sexual freedom" in front of her by bringing home men she wasn't married or committed to, and she had unsupervised time on her hands. That's a sad song I've heard too many times to count.
Parents have to understand that you guys watch what we DO a lot more than you listen to what we SAY. A good example and values clarification in the home go a long way toward protecting adolescents from behaviors which have adult consequences, long before they (the teens) are adult enough to handle them.
2006-07-29 14:44:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I turned 17, My mom began letting me drink in the house, only on weekends. She was happy that I wasn't drinking and driving. Honestly, it's not up to the parents what the kids do. If they want to do it, they're going to find a way to do it. Parents like to turn a blind eye on their kid(s) drinking, just as long as it doesn't get out of control.
Hope this helps
-m!
2006-07-29 22:27:40 · answer #2 · answered by Mark S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd like to say it's as easy as blaming the parents, but it's not necessarily that simple. Kids are going to get alcohol from where ever they can. It should be a parent's responsibility to keep alcohol away from their kids but unfortunately there are those parents who are really lax in their judgments and will allow their children (and their kid's friends) to consume alcohol in their presence. I think that it is unfair and it's not up to those parents to encourage the behavior of other people's children.
2006-07-29 21:34:46 · answer #3 · answered by Jayna 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think teenagers should abstain from drinking alcohol I think they should be taught to be responsible and only drink in moderation. To do this parents need to allow them to drink small amounts in the home rather than allowing them to experience alcohol through their peers.
2006-07-29 21:44:32 · answer #4 · answered by StatIdiot 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes. are kids doing enough to say no? Probably not.
2006-07-29 21:37:38 · answer #5 · answered by blasted 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no and because of this they are doing other drugs
2006-07-29 21:44:47 · answer #6 · answered by azura721 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no because the rate of teen D.U.I are going up by the thousand........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................holla
2006-07-29 21:30:00 · answer #7 · answered by Joshua G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋