Yes, we are ringing in a New Year and many will raise a champagne toast for "Auld Lang Syne." Beth J. Harpaz's recent Associated Press article, ("3, 2, 1 ... Drink? Teens and champagne," Dec. 29 MDJ) asks if it is OK for parents to allow their teens to have champagne on New Year's Eve? Well, when may a sip be too much?
According to Georgia law, parents cannot give alcohol to their teen's friends who are under 21 under any circumstances. However, it does provide for parents to allow their child to consume alcohol only under their direct supervision and in their own home. But legal considerations are just one of many issues that this article raises.
Alcohol is the top health and safety threat for our kids today in terms of public health, safety, crime and quality of life-related problems. Alcohol is the No. 1 drug of choice among children and adolescents. Youth use alcohol 10 times more than all illegal drugs combined. Alcohol contributes to the top three causes of death for youth under the age of 21 each year. There are 6,000 alcohol-related injuries (car crashes, burns, drownings, etc.) per year. Approximately 1,500 homicides and 300 suicides a year are linked to underage drinking.
So when may a sip be too much? When it potentially opens the door to all of the hazards, health-concerns and heartaches caused when youth are introduced to this powerful substance too early.
According to one of the experts quoted in Harpaz's article, John Lieberman, director of operations for Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers, the studies show that, "the earlier someone has their first experience with drugs or alcohol or R-rated movies or sex, the earlier somebody does that, the more apt they are to have an addiction or a problem or consequence as a result of that behavior,"
Ultimately, it is a parent's decision. But how does the parent make an informed decision? The Cobb Alcohol Taskforce is here to provide the complete and accurate information about Georgia law, alcohol's impact on the developing brain and how parental behavior with alcohol influences teen behavior that parents need to make an informed decision. For more information, please visit the Cobb Alcohol Taskforce at www.cobbat.org.
Cathy Finck
Coordinator, Cobb Alcohol Taskforce
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That is surprising. Why would the law allow under-age drinking, under any circumstances?