It is impossible to solve a problem that does not have a name. While underage drinking has a name, many of its detrimental effects are not frequently discussed in public. Due to the personal nature of alcohol abuse, it would make sense that some people would prefer to not to talk about the issue. However, alcohol abuse is more common than many believe. According to the LA County Department of Public Health, alcohol is the second leading cause of death and disability in L.A. County.[i]
Youth may be at higher risk, especially around the holiday season where alcoholic beverages are made widely available at family gatherings and parties. According to multiple studies, the places where teens most commonly consume alcohol are at parties. While some parents or other adults may allow minors (youth under the age of 21) to consume alcohol with the intent to monitor their children’s drinking limits, this is neither effective nor safe for their physical development in the long run. According to the Surgeon General’s Call to Action, teens drink less often than adults, but when teens do drink, they drink more than adults. [ii] On average, young people have about 5 drinks on a single occasion. This excessive level of drinking is referred to as binge drinking. Binge drinking can lead to serious problems and even death.
Arguments in defense of underage drinking often cite that Europeans are less likely to abuse alcohol because of allowing their children to consume alcohol prior to the age of 21. There have been hundreds of studies conducted that ascertained that there is harm in consuming alcohol as a minor. According to a 2005 study conducted by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation which compared drinking culture in Europe and United States, the results were quite shocking. Contrary to popular opinion, a great majority of the European countries have higher intoxication rates among young people than the United States and less than a quarter had lower rates or equivalent rates to the United States.[iii] What this study proves is that the correlation with lax alcohol laws and responsible drinking does not exist.
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It is important to note that no amount of alcohol is safe for a minor as presented in research conducted by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration); the brain is still maturing until a person reaches their mid-20s.[iv] Premature alcohol consumption can have grave mental effects on the brain, in addition to making youth more likely to make irrational decisions. These decisions include but are not limited to: low academic performance, sexual assault, drunken driving, suicide, youth violence, contact with law enforcement, and in some cases, death.
Although in some communities there may be a limited or infrequent visibility of the side effects of underage drinking, it does not mean that underage drinking should not continue to be prioritized as a high- risk situation. It is important to acknowledge that there are things that communities and parents can do to protect their youth. The following are some examples.
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Education: Just less than fifty years ago, public health officials and community organizers were able to frame smoking cigarettes as a serious threat to good health, despite the rampant use of tobacco by adults and minors alike. The same concept can be utilized to reduce underage alcohol use as well as alcohol related deaths. One of the reasons that underage drinking is still not universally categorized as a high risk behavior is due to the lack of education on the subject, as well as little to no policy safeguarding youth.
Public policy: Tools such as a social host ordinance have been utilized in many cities and counties in California in order to protect youth and safeguard communities. Currently, it is illegal for minors to consume alcohol or to sell alcohol to minors, even though it is well known that underage drinking still occurs in many communities. According to an assessment conducted by Day One in 2013, among 51 South Pasadena teens (aged 12-17) who were surveyed, 48% of South Pasadena teens surveyed either knew of or had heard of an adult who allows minors to drink alcohol in their homes. The social host ordinance is a form of policy that, if adopted by South Pasadena, could be used to help reduce underage drinking by targeting the places where youth are consuming alcohol. For example, the city of Ventura implemented a social host ordinance and has noted significant decrease in house calls for house parties, reduction in underage intoxication at parties, as well as a decrease in public nuisances.[v]
Monitoring the liquor cabinet: In the same assessment conducted by Day One in 2013, 45% of South Pasadena teens reported that it was easy for minors to access alcohol in their own homes. One way parents can help prevent underage drinking at home is to lock alcohol in an inaccessible location or to not have alcohol in the home. This way, teens cannot easily access and subsequently, consume alcohol with or without their knowledge.
Open communication: Creating dialogues at home between parents and children about the effects of underage drinking is important in reducing the risk of underage drinking. If parents are not communicating the dangers of drinking before 21, then they are inadvertently putting their children at risk for partaking in high-risk activities centered on alcohol use. While there is no guarantee that teens will choose to use or not use alcohol and drugs, building a warm and trusting relationship with teens can help reduce the urge to use alcohol and help teens develop other positive healthy behaviors. If you do not talk about it, you are still saying something.
Alternative activities: Besides speaking to teens, a key part to reducing underage drinking is to keep youth engaged. Youth who are engaged in an alternate hobby or activity can help mitigate peer pressure to consume alcohol or other drugs. There are many resources that parents and teens can utilize in South Pasadena, such as The Place teen center (http://www.theplaceofsouthpas.org/) or YMCA South Pasadena (http://www.ymcala.org/south-pasadena-san-marino). Other outlets such as athletics and after school activities can also be deterrents for alcohol and drug use. By getting involved with an activity or hobby, youth gain greater access to resources that promote safer and healthier communities for all.
Modeling Healthy Behavior: What you do is just as important as what you say. During this holiday season, we ask that parents, as well as youth, rethink their drink. In other words, parents and youth can model healthy behavior by monitoring how many drinks are being consumed per session or by reconsidering alcoholic drinks altogether.
Underage drinking is not solely a youth problem; it is a community problem; however, with the right policies as well as education and open dialogues about underage drinking, it is possible to make sobriety until the age of 21 the new social norm.
Our coalition, Healthy South Pasadena, is comprised of non-profit organizations and community advocates who have been working to address the problems of underage drinking in South Pasadena. If you are interested in more information, please visit our website at http://www.healthysouthpasadena.org/.
From Healthy South Pasadena Coalition, we wish you all a happy and safe holiday season!
This material was made possible by funds from the County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control.
[i] “Reducing Alcohol-Related Harms in Los Angeles County.” LA County Dept. of Public Health. 2011.
[ii] Office of the Surgeon General. (2007). The Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking: A Guide for Families (PDF 900KB) Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calls/underagedrinking/calltoaction.pdf.
[iii] Grube, Joel, Ph.D. Youth Drinking Rates and Problems: A Comparison of European Countries and the United States. Rep. Pacific Institute For Research And Evaluation, 2005. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. http://www.udetc.org/documents/CompareDrinkRate.pdf
[iv] United States. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Alcohol and The Developing Brain. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 14 May 2012. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. http://www.toosmarttostart.samhsa.gov/families/facts/brain.aspx
[v] United States. Ventura County Health Care Agency. Social Host Ordinance Impact Evaluation: Phase II Findings - 2013 Issue Briefing. By Ventura County Behavioral Health Department. EVALCORP Research & Consulting, Aug. 2013. Web. 4 Dec. 2013. <http://venturacountylimits.org/resource_documents/VC_socialhost_issuebrief_FNL.
