Dear reader,
We live in a society where alcohol is being used in significant quantities by a large number of young South Africans. The use of alcohol
by teenagers carries with it a range of short and long term harmful consequences. This booklet has been produced in an effort to
educate parents and teenagers about these consequences.
It is hoped that the information in this booklet will catalyse open and honest conversations within families about alcohol use by
teenagers. Research has shown that teenagers whose parents talk to them, and teenagers who talk to their parents regularly about
drugs and alcohol are significantly less likely to use these substances than those teens whose parents do not.
In addition to prompting and enabling conversations about alcohol, the information in this book may help young people to make
informed decisions about their own use of alcohol. It is further hoped that the content of this booklet will empower parents to set
appropriate limits and boundaries for their children in respect of alcohol as they lead their teenage children through the transition
to adulthood.
Sincerely
The producer and contributors to Teenagers and Alcohol
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Contents
The effects of alcohol use by teenagers
This section, written for parents and teenagers, explores some of the consequences of teenage alcohol use. The short
and long term consequences of alcohol use by teenagers are outlined. Information is also given about the current
pattern of teenage drinking.
3
Why teenagers use alcohol
Useful insights for parents and teenagers about why alcohol is appealing to young people and the reasons why some
teenagers abuse alcohol.
7
Advice to parents
Guidance for parents about communicating with their teenager and setting appropriate limits. Practical suggestions
are offered to parents for hosting teenage social gatherings and house parties.
9
Preventing alcohol abuse by teenagers
Information and practical recommendations to empower parents to minimise the risk of teenage alcohol abuse.
11
What to do if your chils is using alcohol
Useful guidelines for parents who discover that their teenager is using alcohol without their consent.
13
Legal Consequences
Information about the Western Cape Liquor Bill which expressly prohibits the use of alcohol by teenagers without
parental supervision. This section is intended for both parents and teenagers.
14
Where to get help and more information
A list of resources is provided where parents and teenagers might seek additional help or further information about
alcohol use and abuse.
15
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The effects of alcohol use by teenagers
The place of alcohol in our society...
We live in a society where alcohol is part of the way many adults socialise. We also understand that adolescence is a period during
which teenagers acquire adult behaviour and imitate the adult role models around them. It is thus understandable that some teenagers
may use alcohol and experiment with it.
Almost one in four
high school students in grades 8-11 in
South Africa (23%) report binge drinking in the
last month. The highest levels were recorded
in the Western Cape – 34% (38% for male
learners and 31% for female learners).
Adolescents are drinking increasing amounts of alcohol.
Many teens report a pattern of heavy, intermittent drinking (binge
drinking) with the intention of becoming intoxicated.
•
There is a change in attitudes towards adolescent drinking.
While teenage alcohol use is on the increase, the perceived risk
of drinking is declining; many teens report that they think drinking
alcohol isn’t dangerous or harmful. Furthermore some parents
do not believe it is harmful for teenagers to drink and are complicit
in supplying their children with alcohol and enabling them to
drink harmful quantities.escent development…
Adolescent development…
Source: MRC’s Youth Risk Behaviour
Survey of 2002.
Adolescence is an important time of emotional, social and
psychological development. It is a time when adolescents acquire
adult behaviour, separate from their families, and prepare to leave
home and live as autonomous individuals. In many ways the goal of
adolescence is to prepare teenagers to live as independent and
responsible adults who are capable of looking after themselves and
regulating their own behaviour.
While teenage experimentation with alcohol is not a new
phenomenon, the research is showing that in recent years there have
been some significant changes in the pattern of teenage drinking.
Studies are showing that:
•
•
Adolescence is also a time when the teenage brain undergoes
important developments. As the brain matures, teenagers acquire
many new intellectual skills (such as the capacity for abstract thought,
and the ability to reason and solve complex problems). This period
of rapid brain development continues until most people reach their
early 20s.
Adolescents are starting to drink at a younger age. There is a
significant rise in the proportion of 11 to 15 year-olds who drink
alcohol regularly .
3
The fact that adolescence is a period of important neurological
development provides both opportunities and threats. It is possible
to promote and encourage adolescent brain development by:stimulating the brain, learning new tasks, eating nutritional balanced
meals and drinking plenty of water, getting plenty of sleep, and
exercising regularly.
alcohol regularly and particularly to drink heavily (binge drink) while
their bodies and brains are developing.
Neurological effects of adolescent alcohol use…
Teenagers are more vulnerable than adults to the following long-term
effects of alcohol use:
Research conducted in Cape Town
among adolescents aged 11 to 17 by the MRC
found that one third of the sample indicated that
they had been drunk at least once in their lifetime
(80% of those who had ever consumed alcohol),
and just over a quarter of adolescents who had
ever consumed alcohol reported being drunk
more than 10 times in their lives.
The teenage brain is vulnerable…
Because the adolescent brain is in an important period of
development it is particularly vulnerable to insults of various kinds,
including alcohol, other drug use, head injuries, and poor nutrition.
Exposing the adolescent brain to alcohol during this critical period
of development may seriously affect key processes and lead to
permanent structural and functional damage to the brain resulting
in mild cognitive impairments. There is a growing body of evidence
that supports the idea that it is not healthy for teenagers to drink
4
•
Decreased concentration. Regular alcohol use by teenagers
leads to a significant decrease in concentration and in the ability
to focus, maintain attention and avoid distractions.
•
Long-term memory impairments. Teenagers who drink regularly
have more difficulty learning new information and recalling
information that they have learnt in the past.
•
Working memory impairments. Working memory is the brain’s
system for temporarily storing and managing the information
required to carry out complex cognitive tasks such as reasoning,
comprehension and problem solving. The capacity of one’s
working memory influences how effectively one can solve
problems and manipulate information. Teenagers who drink
regularly show significant working memory impairments.
•
Decline in academic achievement. The combined result of
decreased comprehension, long term memory deficits, and
working memory impairments is a decline in academic
achievement. Teenagers who drink regularly on average do worse
academically at school and university. This decline in academic
achievement does not improve even when teenagers stop
drinking – it seems that once the damage is done to the brain
during adolescence, the brain does not recover.
While adolescents are more vulnerable than adults to some
neurological effects of alcohol they are less vulnerable to other
effects. Teenagers are less vulnerable than adults to the following
short-term effects of alcohol use:
•
Alcohol-induced sedation.
•
Balance disturbances.
•
Motor co-ordination impairments.
Increased risk of alcoholism…
Studies have shown that individuals who begin drinking before age
15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence
compared with those who have their first drink at age 20 or
older. There are many possible reasons for this including the fact
that drinking during adolescence has a negative effect on the social
and emotional development of individuals, reducing their ability to
acquire the skills they need to negotiate relationships and conflict,
and to regulate emotions. Entering adulthood with these skills deficits
predisposes a person to developing problems with alcohol later in
life.
The combined result of this is that it is much more difficult to tell if
an adolescent has been drinking simply by interacting with them.
The lack of sedation, balance disturbances, and fine motor control
impairments induced by alcohol consumption may make it possible
for teenagers to mask the quantity of alcohol they have consumed.
Crime and violence…
Teenagers who drink regularly are more likely to experience multiple
violent crimes. It seems that when teenagers drink alcohol they are
more likely to put themselves in harm's way and are less able to
assess risk accurately. This impaired judgement causes them to put
themselves into dangerous situations which they might otherwise
avoid, making them more likely to be the victims of crime. Teens who
drink are also far more likely to run into trouble with the police
because the poor impulse control and impaired judgement that is
associated with alcohol use make them more inclined to break the
law.
Research conducted in Cape Town
among 2900 high school learners in
grades 8 to 11 found an association between
alcohol use and absenteeism and repeating a
grade at school. Another longitudinal study among
high school learners in Cape Town found a strong
association between binge drinking, school
dropout and low academic aspirations
over a period of two years.
Accidents and injury…
Teenagers increase their risk of being injured (sometimes fatally) in
accidents and fights when they or those around them have been
drinking. Furthermore alcohol related motor vehicle accidents are
one of the most common causes of death among individuals 15 to
20 years old.
Source UCT/MRC
5
Suicide…
•
poorer balance, steadiness, and movement skills;
Suicide is one of the most common causes of death among individuals
14 - 25 years old. Alcohol use interacts with conditions such as
depression and stress to contribute to suicide. Not only does alcohol
use exacerbate depressive symptoms in the long run, it also makes
teenagers more impulsive and hence more likely to act on suicidal
thoughts. Drinking alcohol increases the likelihood that depressed
teenagers will complete suicide.
•
increased boisterousness and lack of judgement;
•
hangover effects, including reduced eye-hand coordination and
slower reaction time.
In this context it is important to remember that alcohol can remain
in a person's blood stream for up to 18 hours. This means that athletes
who drink the night before a competition may compromise their
performance because they are competing with alcohol in their blood
streams. It should also be noted that alcohol is a depressant and
among other things, its use causes dehydration. Furthermore, the
effects of alcohol use on performance listed above have been shown
to persist even when Blood Alcohol Concentration has returned to
“zero”. Professor Tim Noakes advocates that, “Excessive alcohol use
by sportsmen (and women) must be discouraged, not because it
acutely impairs the performance of skilled activities, but because it
encourages the retention of the adolescent mindset (and avoidance
of the responsibility of growing up). Increasingly the best athletes in
the world must be intelligent, disciplined, focused, introspective and
grown-up; alcohol use works against this.”
Sexual assault…
Sexual assault, including rape, occurs most commonly among women
in late adolescence and early adulthood, usually within the context
of a date. Research suggests that alcohol use by the offender, the
victim, or both, increases the likelihood of sexual assault by a male
acquaintance. Teenagers who drink therefore put themselves at
increased risk of being involved in cases of sexual assault.
High-risk sex…
Teenagers who drink are more likely to be sexually active. Adolescent
alcohol use is also associated with high-risk sexual behaviour,
increasing the likelihood of pregnancy and sexually transmitted
infections.
Alcohol poisoning and death…
Reduced performance in sporting activities...
Young people can die solely from
drinking (as a result of alcohol poisoning).
The risk of alcohol poisoning is significantly
increased when alcohol consumption is
combined with drinking drinks containing large
amounts of caffeine. In the USA it is reported
that alcohol kills more teens than all other
illegal drugs combined.
Alcohol has no performance-enhancing potential; in fact the opposite
is true. Studies have shown that alcohol impairs athletic performance
by resulting in:
•
reduced ability to focus attention on a task, make high-speed
decisions, and assess dangers;
•
decreased memory function and slower reaction time;
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Why teenagers use alcohol
There are many reasons why teenagers use alcohol. These include:
Escape and self-medication…
Rebellion…
Life is often difficult for teenagers. They may turn to alcohol for solace
if they don’t have a healthy outlet for frustration, social anxiety,
depression, anger and all the other emotions that are part and parcel
of growing up in this decade. After initial exposure to a substance,
teenagers start to believe it can ward off their painful feelings. Alcohol
is a very powerful anxiolytic drug which reduces symptoms of stress
and anxiety. Teens with undiagnosed and unmanaged anxiety
problems are at particular risk for abusing alcohol. Furthermore, if
their lives aren’t going well, they figure they have nothing to lose by
using alcohol.
What better way to express your anger at your parents than doing
something they tell you not to? Alcohol is the drug of choice for
angry teenagers because it frees them to behave aggressively and
this can be a concrete display of defiance and rejection of their
parents.
Everybody’s doing it…
Teenagers are astute observers
and they see lots of people using alcohol.
They are very susceptible to marketing strategies
used in media. Furthermore movies, TV, and the
Internet glorify the use of alcohol.
Teens generally wildly overstate the number of
their peers who use alcohol.
Some may feel “if I don’t drink I will have no one
to hang out with.” Most important, they see some
teenagers who enjoy alcohol and they ask,
“How can it be wrong?” Their natural curiosity
also contributes to their
experimentation with alcohol.
Boredom and instant friends…
Teenagers who can’t tolerate being alone, have trouble keeping
themselves occupied, and crave excitement, are prime candidates
for using alcohol. Alcohol becomes a “false friend” whose glittery
promise of a good time is manna to a bored adolescent.
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Instant gratification…
Parental cues…
Alcohol works quickly. The initial effects feel really good, especially
for teens who wants to get rid of their bad feelings. The problem
is that when the effects wear off, the negative feelings return even
stronger.
The example parents set for their children is enormously powerful.
Parents can inadvertently influence their children’s alcohol use by
denying or minimizing their own use or abuse of alcohol. The
emotional climate in the home can also precipitate alcohol abuse.
Inadequate parental involvement and lack of supervision puts
teenagers at risk. Poor family communication can also exacerbate
the problem. Teenagers who can’t talk to their parents are more
likely to feel isolated and unhappy and these feelings can lead them
to chemical solutions. Parents’ relationships and behaviours send
powerful messages to their children about how to cope with
problems.
Lack of confidence…
Some teenagers would do things under the influence of alcohol
that they otherwise would never risk doing, for example, having to
get drunk before going to a party. Alcohol can become a crutch
which some teenagers rely on and they don’t feel comfortable in a
social setting without it.
Mixed messages…
Misinformation…
Inaccurate information and a lack of information about alcohol and
its harmful effects sometimes contribute to misuse of alcohol by
teenagers.
Today’s teens hear
mixed messages about drinking alcohol.
One minute they hear the simple message,
“Just say NO!” and the next minute they
encounter TV commercials, magazine
adverts and billboards illustrating how cool,
sexy or patriotic it is to drink.
On top of this, teens know adults
who use alcohol to relax, to get rid
of stress, or to socialize.
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Advice to parents
We recommend that you should begin having conversations about alcohol in your home from the time your children are in grade five.
They have been communicating with their peers about alcohol from quite a young age. In addition they have been absorbing ideas
about alcohol and its use from TV programmes, adverts and movies. Unless we as parents enter into a conversation with our children
on this issue, their use of alcohol will be determined to a great extent by others who do not necessarily have the best interests of
our children at heart.
Parents sometimes avoid this conversation with their teenagers as
a result of their own use of alcohol. This is not a reason to hold back.
In fact it is probably even more of a reason to engage with your child
openly and honestly. You do so from the point of view of wanting the
very best for your child. This makes your input crucially important
because almost all other inputs he or she will receive have some
other motive (profit, inclusion into a group, excitement, manipulation,
sexual conquest etc).
openly and directly. Make it clear that you value your child's input,
even if you do not agree with some of the things he or she says.
Be patient. Listen actively.
Some advice about communicating…
•
Do some research beforehand. (Reading this booklet will help
as will looking at some of the websites listed on the inside
back cover)
•
Be clear in your own mind what your expectations are for your
child with respect to alcohol consumption. Discuss this with the
other parent and try to agree on a common approach.
•
Plan your meeting. What things do you want to communicate?
What do you want to know from your child?
•
Make a time with your child for the dialogue to take place.
(Don't simply wait for an opportune moment as this may only
occur after an unfortunate event.)
•
Encourage your child to share his or her thoughts and ideas
•
If you can show that your child's input has taught you something
or influenced the outcome of the discussion in some positive
way, this will help future conversations to occur more readily.
•
Make sure that in the end your child is quite clear about what
you expect from him or her. Ask questions to test this. Many
people do not pick up all the information the first time it is
given verbally.
This communication needs to
happen again and again as your child
grows up. The pressures on teenagers
change as they get older. Parents need to
remain current and relevant in their
decision-making. Parental expectations have
been shown to be hugely important
in the behaviour of teenagers
around alcohol.
9
Parties and other social gatherings...
If you are hosting a party…
Parties and other get-togethers are important for the social
development of young people. They can be a lot of fun and relatively
safe provided proper planning and careful supervision occurs.
These get-togethers are to be encouraged and supported by
parents. However the responsibility of being a host should not be
undertaken lightly. The guidelines below are intended to help
parents fulfil their responsibility with respect to teenage parties
and gatherings.
•
Keep the party at a manageable size. Ensure your adult-tochild ratio is workable.
•
Agree to guidelines with your teenager as to how the evening
is expected to progress - including what time it will end.
•
Designate which parts of the house and garden may be used
for the party.
If your child is going to a party…
•
Be a visible presence at all times.
•
Contact the parents hosting the party and check on the facts
concerning the party. This communication helps build up trust
between families and protects all involved.
•
Agree to an invitation list beforehand and resist late additions
and, especially, gate-crashers.
•
For larger parties provide security at the gate and perimeter.
•
Talk to your children about your expectations and the
consequences of their not living up to them.
•
Be wary of people who leave and then return.
•
Do not give your children large quantities of cash.
•
Secure your own alcohol supply.
•
Make it clear that they cannot under any circumstance leave
that party and go to another without getting your express
permission.
•
Ban, take in or search bags. (Body searches for larger parties
have been shown to be helpful.)
•
Provide large quantities of food and encourage people to eat.
•
You (or a trusted parent) should pick them up at the agreed
time but they should also know that they can phone you at any
stage if they need to leave.
•
Your responsibility only ends once a child is safely collected.
Children should not just disappear. If they do, parents should
be contacted.
Sleep-overs are not advisable unless you have reason to
trust the host family completely. Check last-minute sleep-over
plans very thoroughly with the host parents.
•
Be vigilant throughout the party and be conscious of the fact
that there are mobile delivery services in operation which
deliver alcohol to parties.
•
•
Be awake when your children return home or have them wake
you. Engage them in conversation for a while.
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Preventing alcohol abuse by teenagers
There are many things parents can do to decrease the probability of their children developing an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.
These include:
•
Communicate with your teen.
Many parents express concern
over possible alcohol misuse, but they
don't always discuss their views and concerns
with their children. Rather than waiting until a
problem arises, talk with your teen about
your concerns and the messages they
may be getting from the media
and their peers.
•
Encourage teenagers' abilities and interests. Parents need to
encourage their teens to engage in activities that develop interests
and skills. These activities should help teens feel good about
themselves without the use of alcohol. Hobbies, school events,
sport, healthy relationships, and volunteer work may keep young
people from using alcohol.
11
•
Help your teen deal with peer pressure. Parents can help their
teen say no to alcohol without losing face. Here are some things
teens can say: “I don't like the way it (beer, wine) tastes,” “I'll be
grounded for life if my dad finds out I've been drinking,” “I need
all my brain cells for rugby practice (math test, homework)
tomorrow.”
•
Permit white lies. Tell your teen he or she can “blame” you when
under peer pressure. “My mom's going to give me a driving lesson
this afternoon.” “If I don't drink I'll get to stay out later.” Tell them
that many times a simple “no thanks” or “not today” will do.
•
Know the facts about alcohol. Parents should know the effects
of alcohol on the body and the risks of alcohol misuse. This
information should be communicated clearly and consistently
to teenagers. Teenagers should for example know the different
strengths of different alcohol products and how to compare
different drinks in terms of the quantity of absolute alcohol each
contains. For example, 1 standard unit of alcohol (10g of pure
alcohol) is roughly equal to 2/3 340ml can of beer (5% alcohol),
90ml glass of wine (12% alcohol), 25ml shot of Tequila (40%
alcohol), 25 ml glass of Vodka, Cane spirits, Whisky or Brandy
(40% alcohol), and 2/3rds 340 ml bottle of Spirit Cooler
(5% alcohol).
•
Create strong family ties. Strong family ties can help protect
against alcohol problems in young people. Family activities (for
example: sports, movies or family meetings) along with open
discussions and flexible rules can be particularly helpful. Really
listening to your teen, even when you don't agree, will strengthen
the ties between you.
•
Guide and limit. Preventing alcohol abuse begins at home.
Parents need to guide their teens and set clear and reasonable
rules. To do this, parents should clearly state rules about alcohol
(for example: tell teens not to drink and drive to prevent them
from causing accidents but also to enable them to avoid
accidents caused by other people). Calmly talk about alcohol
use before problems start (for example: use news reports of
alcohol related accidents to discuss the harmful outcomes
of drinking).
•
Encourage teens to be healthy. Talk with your teens about the
advantages of eating nutritious foods, exercising, driving safely,
and getting enough sleep.
•
Make a contract. Many families have found it helpful to sit down
together and agree to a parent-teen “contract” about acceptable
and unacceptable alcohol use. In the contract, teens agree to
remain within certain clearly stated boundaries when it comes
to alcohol use. This contract might also outline the
consequences for crossing these agreed-on boundaries.
•
Encourage a long-term focus. Teenagers who have a long-term
focus, a vision of their future, goals, and plans are much less
likely to drink than those who are orientated towards shortterm gratification. Prompt your teenagers to think about their
future, to make plans and to set goals for themselves.
•
Be aware of the example you set.
Be a role model.
If you drink, do so responsibly.
If you have a drinking problem, or think
you may have one, seek help.
If there is a family history of
substance abuse, discuss this
with your teenager.
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What to do if your child is using alcohol
It can be anxiety provoking for a parent to discover that their children are using alcohol without consent. When this happens it is
important not to over-react but it is equally important not to deny the problem or minimise its significance. These situations require
communication and conversations about alcohol. During these conversations, it is recommended that you:
•
Keep calm. Research shows that many teens will use alcohol
once in a while. Don't assume your child is an alcoholic but do
respond and most certainly discuss the incident with them.
•
If you have reason to believe your teen is abusing alcohol or
your efforts to enforce the rules have failed repeatedly, seek
help from a health care professional.
•
Don't allow anger and fear to overwhelm your effectiveness
to communicate, but be honest with your feelings.
•
Be wary of denial
•
When confronting the problem, first agree on a course of
action with your spouse.
•
Talk about the extent of your child's use - how often, with whom,
where, and why.
•
Let your child know that you do not condone this behaviour,
although you value him as an individual.
•
Explain why you are concerned. Remind your teen of your family
expectations and rules about alcohol use and enforce the
consequences for breaking them.
There is often an element of shame
and inadequacy associated with alcohol abuse.
Parents should be concerned if a teenager is
involved in frequent, heavy or very early
use of alcohol. Many parents feel helpless and
thus do not confront the problem, while others
feel they can take care of the problem within
the context of the family. This process
assists the teenagers in their own denial and
minimization of their drinking. Rather
confront the problem and reach out
for professional assistance.
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Legal Consequences
Section 39 of the Western Cape Liquor Bill that is likely to be signed into law during 2008 has six provisions that relate to alcohol
and persons under the age of 18:
•
No person may sell liquor to a person under the age of eighteen
(18) years.
•
No person may give or supply liquor to a person under the age
of eighteen (18) years or allow such a person to consume liquor,
except in negligible quantities in the presence of such a person's
parent or guardian.
•
A licensee may not allow a person under the age of eighteen
(18) years to consume liquor on premises of which he or she
is the licensee or which is under his or her control.
•
A licensee may not allow a person under the age of eighteen
(18) years to be in a part of licensed premises in which such a
person may not be in terms of this Act or in terms of a condition
of the licence.
•
A person under the age of eighteen (18) years may not obtain
or consume liquor in contravention of this Act or mislead any
person regarding his or her age in order to obtain or to consume
liquor or to gain access to parts of licensed premises which
such person may not enter.
•
Failure to comply with subsections (1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) is
an offence.
Parents who encourage or allow their own children to abuse alcohol
or any other drug for that matter can be prosecuted for abusing
and/or neglecting their children. According to the new legislation
(Section 41) persons under 18 years old will not be allowed to enter
licensed premises unless accompanied by a parent or guardian or
by an adult with the consent of a parent or guardian.
Some learners in grade 12 are over 18. They need to be aware that
under Section 39 of the new legislation it is an offence for them to
supply liquor to a fellow learner who is not yet 18. A person over
18 supplying liquor to a person under 18 will be in breach of the
Act and subject to severe penalties. The maximum penalty is R1
million or 5 years imprisonment.
In order to reduce the likelihood of litigation, parents are advised
to obtain parental permission should they plan to provide alcohol
to someone else's child (i.e. to a person who is not yet 18 years of
age) or should they reasonably envisage that a minor is likely to be
offered alcohol at an event they are hosting or that is being hosted
on their premises.
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Where to get help and more information
Alcoholics Anonymous
021 510 2288
Al-Anon
021 595 4517
Cape Town Drug Counselling Centre
(has an adolescent outpatient programme,
but does not deal with persons abusing “only” alcohol)
021 447 8026
Life Line (24 hour hotline plus counseling service)
0861 322 322
The Parent Centre
021 762 0116
UCT Child Guidance Clinic
021 650 3900
UCT Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Unit
021 685 4103
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Parents needing assistance can also phone or email their school counsellor to obtain the
names of suitably qualified professionals who have experience working with adolescent
alcohol problems.
Below are several local and international websites that parents may find of use in learning
more about teenage alcohol use:
Alcohol & Drug Module, SA Healthinfo
www.sahealthinfo.org/admodule/alcdrug.htm
SA
Faces & Voices of Recovery
www.favor.org.za
SA
South Africans Against Drunk Driving
http://www.sadd.org.za
SA
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism
www.niaaa.nih.gov
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration:
Spotlight on underage drinking
www.samhsa.gov/underagedrinking/index.aspx
WIRED
www.wiredinitiative.com
To see any updates to this booklet, consult www.bishops.org.za/parenting
USA
USA
UK
Produced by: The Industry Association for Responsible Alcohol Use
With special thanks to the Bishops Support Unit, Bishops, Cape Town,
who Applied their expertise in consultation with leading professionals
(medical, psychologists and educators) in preparing the content.