What Parents Need to Know About Binge Drinking and Kids
The following is a look at what parents should know about binge drinking: 1.
It starts young.
Kids as young as 11-13 have been known to participate in binge drinking on a regular basis.
The statistics show that girls in this age group are more likely to binge drink than boys, but it still happens in both genders.
Kids of all ages binge drink, college kids binge drink, etc.
but the fact is, just because your child is young does not mean they are precluded from this problem.
2.
Both genders are affected fairly equally.
The fact is, girls that are younger drink more than boys that are younger, but then at certain ages that number starts to turn around.
Regardless of what gender your child is, they are not immune to the pressures of binge drinking.
So, just because you have a daughter, or a son, doesn't mean you don't have to worry.
3.
The consequences are serious.
Binge drinking is when you have more than five drinks in a couple hour span.
It leads to increasingly risky behavior.
In addition to the physical havoc binge drinking can wreak on a body, it also is tied to several other risky behaviors.
A child who binge drinks has significantly greater chance of getting pregnant or getting someone pregnant.
The chance of STDs goes up, as well as sexual promiscuity.
The chance of them driving, or driving with someone who is impaired and should not be driving goes way up, which means the chance of staying alive and unharmed goes way down.
The chance of taking drugs, even hardcore drugs skyrockets.
The chances of getting in a physical altercation jump up, etc.
The fact is, risky behavior is not well regulated when a child binge drinks.
Many of these risky behaviors have serious consequences.
A baby is a big deal.
A DUI, or accident can change someone's life for the worse.
A drug habit, broken bone, enemy made, and more are all increasingly potential when binge drinking occurs.
4.
Alcohol is readily available to kids.
Parents should never feel a sense of security because the legal drinking age is 21.
Alcohol is easy to get a hold of.
Kids can make fake ids, or ask an older friend or sibling to get them alcohol.
They may attend a party that someone else is throwing.
They may have parents who provide it to them, or do not mind if they drink.
They may be pilfering it at home because you aren't paying attention to how many beers are being drunk during a football game, etc.
The point is, you can't stop them from getting alcohol, but you can talk to them about the consequences and help them to choose not to go down that route.
Talk to your child, explain the concern, let them know what you expect, and then keep your eyes out for warning signs that they might have a drinking problem
It starts young.
Kids as young as 11-13 have been known to participate in binge drinking on a regular basis.
The statistics show that girls in this age group are more likely to binge drink than boys, but it still happens in both genders.
Kids of all ages binge drink, college kids binge drink, etc.
but the fact is, just because your child is young does not mean they are precluded from this problem.
2.
Both genders are affected fairly equally.
The fact is, girls that are younger drink more than boys that are younger, but then at certain ages that number starts to turn around.
Regardless of what gender your child is, they are not immune to the pressures of binge drinking.
So, just because you have a daughter, or a son, doesn't mean you don't have to worry.
3.
The consequences are serious.
Binge drinking is when you have more than five drinks in a couple hour span.
It leads to increasingly risky behavior.
In addition to the physical havoc binge drinking can wreak on a body, it also is tied to several other risky behaviors.
A child who binge drinks has significantly greater chance of getting pregnant or getting someone pregnant.
The chance of STDs goes up, as well as sexual promiscuity.
The chance of them driving, or driving with someone who is impaired and should not be driving goes way up, which means the chance of staying alive and unharmed goes way down.
The chance of taking drugs, even hardcore drugs skyrockets.
The chances of getting in a physical altercation jump up, etc.
The fact is, risky behavior is not well regulated when a child binge drinks.
Many of these risky behaviors have serious consequences.
A baby is a big deal.
A DUI, or accident can change someone's life for the worse.
A drug habit, broken bone, enemy made, and more are all increasingly potential when binge drinking occurs.
4.
Alcohol is readily available to kids.
Parents should never feel a sense of security because the legal drinking age is 21.
Alcohol is easy to get a hold of.
Kids can make fake ids, or ask an older friend or sibling to get them alcohol.
They may attend a party that someone else is throwing.
They may have parents who provide it to them, or do not mind if they drink.
They may be pilfering it at home because you aren't paying attention to how many beers are being drunk during a football game, etc.
The point is, you can't stop them from getting alcohol, but you can talk to them about the consequences and help them to choose not to go down that route.
Talk to your child, explain the concern, let them know what you expect, and then keep your eyes out for warning signs that they might have a drinking problem
