Some of the best days of summer growing up are getting together with friends; roasting marshmallows, sitting poolside, and having movie nights. With social distancing and mask mandates over for fully vaccinated people, your teen may start to throw around the “so when can I have all my friends over” question very soon. And after a year of having the “covid” excuse, you might be in a place where you finally have to give in. There are ways to let your child celebrate after a year of social distancing while making sure they are safe.
Research has found that teens are most likely to use alcohol, or other drugs, for the first time in the months of June and July.1
We also know from our yearly survey of over 1,800 Cortland County 7th-12th graders that the most common places teens report drinking are at their house or someone else’s house. Keep these facts in mind as your teen starts to make plans this summer!
Underage drinking can negatively impact your teen’s schoolwork, athletic performance, and mental health. However, as a parent you are in a unique position to prevent your kids, and their friends from drinking this summer. Use the checklist below for when your teen starts planning their summer gathering.
Teen Party Safety Tips:
- Follow CDC COVID-19 guidance for social distancing and mask requirements
- Talk with your teen about the rules for the party before the event, ask for their input on what should and should not be acceptable. Do not demand or lecture!
- Make a guest list with your teen. Stick to it!
- Have a set end time for the party. Stick to it!
- Be open to talking with other parents about the event and rules if they reach out
- Be visible, but don’t crash the party
- Create a “party area” and lock rooms that are not in the designated area
- Have a room for coats, keys, purses etc. that can be monitored or locked
- Notify other parents if their child brings alcohol or appears to be under the influence
- Do not allow anyone who may have drank alcohol to leave the party alone or drive
- Have a plan for what would happen if someone is injured or becomes sick
Parents can also work towards reducing alcohol access at home all the time, not just when their teen is having a larger gathering. One of the number one ways we can prevent underage drinking in Cortland County is eliminating access to alcohol at home.
Reducing Alcohol Access at Home:
- Have a reliable system to track your alcohol inventory or a liquor cabinet that locks
- Have clear family rules about alcohol use and discuss them with your teen
- When rules are established and broken, enforce fair consequences. Allow your teen input on what they think the consequences should be if they break the rules.
- Monitor all teen gatherings in your home—commit to this by signing our Upstream Parent Pledge today: http://www.upstreamparent.org/?page_id=681
References:
1. Monthly Variation in Substance Use Initiation Amongst Adolescents. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH080/NSDUH080/SR080InitiationSubstanceUse2012.pdf
2. Friese B, Grube JW, Moore RS, Jennings VK. Parents Rules about Underage Drinking: A Qualitative Study of Why Parents Let Teens Drink. Journal of Drug Education. 2012;42(4):379-391. doi:10.2190/de.42.4.a.
3. Make a Difference: Talk to your child about alcohol-Parents. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/make-a-difference-child-alcohol
4. Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html
