Letter: Serving Beer to Teens at Home

Friday, 25 March 2011 00:00

A recent Wall Street Journal article explored the question, “Do Parents Who Serve Teens Beer and Wine at Home Raise Responsible Drinkers?” It’s worth checking out, but it’s also amazing that in 2011 we are still debating whether or not it’s a good idea for parents to give their kids alcohol. We know that alcohol consumption impacts brain development and that kids who start drinking under the age of 15 are six times more likely to develop dependence later on in life.

The argument is an old one: “I’d rather have them do it in my home where I can keep a eye on them and make sure they stay safe.” Putting aside the fact that underage drinking is illegal, it’s also patently unsafe. Most importantly, why have we conceded that our kids are going to drink no matter what we say or do? Alcohol remains the single greatest threat to teen safety and parents have a bigger influence on their kids than anyone or anything else. We’re giving up too easy and we’re giving too much away.

Would we let our kids smoke cigarettes at the dinner table so that we can give them some pointers? Do we let our 14 and 15 year olds drive our cars now in hopes that they’ll be better drivers as adults?

I often ask parents-especially fathers with daughters-who argue passionately that drinking at the dinner table is a safer alternative, if they feel the same way about their kids having sex in the den. They recoil in horror, but begin to make the connections.

Working with Manhasset CASA to reduce underage drinking in Manhasset, we invite you to be a part of the solution and attend a Town Hall meeting: Underage Drinking Not a Minor Problem, on Wednesday, April 6, at 7:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre at Manhasset High School. CASA will present the student results of the 2011 Bach Harrison Prevention Needs Assessment Survey and facilitate an open dialogue about how we can work together to protect our children from the dangers of underage drinking. We need you there and so do our kids.

Jeffrey L. Reynolds, Ph.D.

Executive Director

L.I. Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence (LICADD)