The holiday season is here! As we all gather to celebrate, it is important to make sure we are performing safe drinking practices, especially, around our youth. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of the holidays and forget about some of the dangers involved with drinking around children and teenagers. There can be many opportunities during these celebrations for underage drinking and that can have grave consequences on children's lives. Here are just a few of the impacts underage drinking can have on a person's life.
The younger a child is when he/she starts to drink, the more likely there will be alcohol-related problems later in life.
Alcohol use by teens affects still-developing brains and impairs memory and learning.
Teens who drink are more likely to commit or be the victim of violence (including sexual assault) and to experience stress, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Given how serious underage drinking can be, we think it is important to remind everyone of some things we can all do at our holiday parties to limit the risk of underage drinking.
At your holiday gatherings, offer plenty of non-alcoholic foods, drinks and activities.
Model responsible behavior by making sure that guests who have been drinking do not drive.
Let your child know what to expect. Tell your children that adults may be drinking alcohol during the holidays, but under no circumstances are they allowed to.
To lower the risk of alcohol poisoning, be sure to empty partially-full alcoholic drinks. Children love to imitate adults; if they have access to leftover drinks they may be tempted. Children are much more sensitive to alcohol than adults. Alcohol is found in beer, wine and distilled liquor, such as vodka, whiskey, rum or bourbon. It is also in perfumes, aftershave lotions, and mouthwashes. Vanilla and almond extracts also have high alcohol content. Make sure to keep all of these products out of the reach of children.
Parents, grandparents and babysitters should also be extra vigilant during the holidays. Visitors often leave medicines on a nightstand or in the bathroom, making them easily accessible to children. Medications given to senior citizens often do not have child-resistant closures, allowing children to open them with very little difficulty. Also, purses of visitors may contain medicines and other potentially dangerous items. Remember that the homes of friends and relatives may not be poison-proof, particularly if children do not live there.
Following these guidelines will help create a safe and family friendly environment for everyone to enjoy. Have a happy holiday season and, even more importantly, have a safe holiday season.