Family Life Month Packet 2002
Family and Consumer Sciences
Human Development and Family Science
www.hec.ohio-state.edu/famlife
FLM-FS-14-02
Fact Sheet
Adolescents at Risk: Alcohol Use
Urvia McDowell, M.S., and Ted G. Futris, Ph.D., CFLE, Extension State Family Life Specialist and
Assistant Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Science, The Ohio State University
Did you know that alcohol is the most popular
drug of choice among teens? In fact, youth typically take their first sips of alcohol before leaving
junior high (The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, 2002). By the end of
high school, four out of five teens have consumed
alcohol, and 62% of teens get drunk at least once
before graduating. In 1998 there were over 10 million teens (ages 12-20) who consumed alcohol and
of these, almost half reported binge drinking (having 5 or more drinks in a row).
Influential Factors
The Media. The media portrays alcohol use in
an alluring light. Sports heroes, models, and pop
culture icons reinforce the idea that drinking is
widely accepted by society, and while it may be,
drinking during the teen years is not.
Easy Access. The legal age in the United States
for buying and consuming alcohol is 21. Still,
teens report having easy access to alcohol. Teens
get alcohol from a number of sources, most notably from their parents’ own alcohol cabinets and
refrigerators. Older friends or siblings may also
buy alcoholic substances for underaged youth.
Peers. Drinking alcohol is a social behavior that
is engaged in with others. Because teens tend to
gravitate toward friends, teens with friends that
drink or abuse other illegal substances are more
likely to drink alcohol.
Boredom. When there is a lack of appropriate
activities (e.g., after school clubs, sports programs)
teens are more prone to consume alcohol because
they lack a positive outlet for experimentation.
Stress. Stress is a normal part of growing up.
Teens who do not have effective strategies for
dealing with stress and change may see drinking as
an appropriate way to cope, especially when this
behavior is reinforced by parents and others who
use alcohol as a way to “kick back and relax.”
What Are the Consequences?
The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and
Drug Information (www.health.org) suggests that
there are many negative consequences of underage
drinking on physical and mental health, academic
performance, and crime (victimizing others and
being a victim).
• Nearly one-third of traffic related deaths of 1520 year olds are alcohol related.
• Consuming large quantities of alcohol (binge
drinking) can result in alcohol poisoning, which
can put a teen in a coma and may even lead to
death.
• Teens who drink are more likely to engage in
sexual activity earlier than teens who do not
drink. And because drinking impairs judgment,
teens are more likely to engage in unprotected
sex, and consequently are more prone to catching STDs.
• Teens who begin drinking before the age of 15
are four times more likely to become alcoholics
(addicted to alcohol) than those who begin
drinking at 21.
All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to
race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.
Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension
TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868
FLM-FS-14-02—page 2
• Teens who consume alcohol are five times more
likely to drop out of school than teens who
don’t.
What Can Parents Do?
As a parent, you have a powerful influence over
your teen’s risk taking behavior. Here are a few
suggestions for what you can do.
Connect. Do you know whether your teen is
drinking or not? One study found that nearly twothirds of parents are not aware of their child’s alcohol consumption (Bogenschneider et al., 1998).
Keep the lines of communication open. This increases your teen’s willingness to talk to you about
sensitive issues such as alcohol use.
Role Model. Adolescents are more likely to
drink if their parents drink regularly and are more
tolerant of alcohol use (Ennett et al., 2001). Additionally, what adolescents observe their parents
doing is more important than what parents say.
When alcohol is unavailable or hard to access in
your home or community, then your teen will be
less likely to drink.
Monitor. Do you know your teen’s friends?
What activities does your teen engage in after
school or on weekends? Teens who have access to
responsible adults and are consistently monitored
are less likely to begin using alcohol.
Set Clear Guidelines. Teens want and need clear
guidelines. Talk with your teen about your expectations and clearly express your rules for his or her
behavior when hanging out with peers. Share your
feelings about alcohol and other drugs and discuss
when and under what circumstances drinking is
appropriate.
Counsel. Help your teen develop ways to deal
with peer pressure. Kids Health
(www.kidshealth.org) has some helpful tips for
helping your teen recognize pressures to drink.
Also, teach your child how to explain why she or
he is not interested in drinking. For example, suggesting alternative behaviors or activities or even
leaving the situation may help your teen become
confident in turning down invitations to drink.
Reassure. Teens want to know that their parents
understand what they are going through. Reassure
your teen that you know that there are commercials
and ads that encourage alcohol use and that some
of their friends or classmates may drink. Together,
explore other alternatives.
There are a number of reasons that teens drink.
Talking to your teen about the events of his or her
life is an important step in reducing the likelihood
that they may participate in any risk related behavior. If you don’t ask, they will be less likely to offer information about their own experiences with
peer pressure or risk taking behavior.
References and Resources
Alateen: www.al-anon.alateen.org.
Bogenschneider, K., Wu, M., Raffaelli, M., &
Tsay, J. C. (1998). Other teens drink, but not my
kid. Does parental awareness of adolescent alcohol use protect adolescents from risky consequences? Journal of Marriage and the Family,
60 (2), 356-373.
Ennett, S. T., Bauman, K. E., Foshee, V. A.,
Pemberton, M., & Hicks, K. A. (2001). Parentchild communication about adolescent tobacco
and alcohol use: What do parents say and does it
affect youth behavior? Journal of Marriage and
the Family, 63 (1), 48-62.
Johnston, L. D., O’Malley, P. M., & Bachman, J.
G. (2001). Monitoring the future: National results on adolescent drug use. Bethesda, MD:
The National Institute on Abuse.
Kids Health: www.kidshealth.org.
Kipke, M. (1999). Risks and opportunities: Synthesis of studies on adolescence. Washington DC:
National Academy Press.
National Clearinghouse for Drug and Alcohol Information: www.health.org.
Steinberg, L., & Levine, A. (1997). You and your
adolescent: A parent’s guide for ages 10-20.
New York: Harper Perennials.
Talking With Kids About Tough Issues:
www.talkingwithkids.org.
“. . . nearly two-thirds of parents are not aware of their
child’s alcohol consumption”