How You Can Cut Down on Drinking

by National Institute of Health

Alcohol is the most commonly used drug among our Nation's young people, surpassing tobacco and illicit drugs. Alcohol is a powerful, mood-altering drug, and its use by children poses very serious health risks for bodies and minds that are still maturing. It can cloud judgment and interfere with developing social skills and academic achievement. For example, research demonstrates that adolescents who abuse alcohol may remember 10% less of what they have learned than those who don't drink. Alcohol use may also lead to increased sexual activity, exposure to sexually transmitted disease, unplanned pregnancy, suicidal and violent behavior, criminal activity, injury, and death.

Moreover, children are beginning to drink at very young ages, sometimes before they finish elementary school. Many drink specifically to get drunk. Although drinking is often considered a normal part of growing up, like starting to date and learning to drive, it is not. The Nation must recognize this overlooked group of drinkers-the 9- to 15-year-olds-and understand the extent of the problem and its dangers. The statistics tell the story.

The age at which a person first uses alcohol is a powerful predictor of lifetime alcohol abuse and dependence. More than 40 percent of individuals who begin drinking before age 15 will develop alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence at some time in their lives.

The dangers of early alcohol use are clear. What may be less clear is how to begin to prevent it. This guide is a starting point for people like you-parents, teachers, health professionals, law enforcement personnel, alcohol retailers, policymakers, and others who are concerned with the well-being of children. It describes three basic prevention strategies and ways they can be applied in the home, the school, and the community, and offers effective, practical strategies for communities that have decided to take action to prevent underage drinking, especially among children and young adolescents. These strategies may lead to such changes as revised zoning laws, new policies or legislation, better enforcement of existing laws, and establishment of school policies on alcohol use.

To help you better understand how to put these strategies into action, the guide also includes real-life examples of efforts by people around the country to prevent drinking by 9- to 15-year-olds. Although the strategies may be adapted in different ways by different communities, their science base ensures that no matter what the location, from rural farming areas, to suburban school districts, to inner-city neighborhoods, these strategies work. Addresses for online "e-sources" point to further information.

How to use the guide

Start by reading the brief descriptions of the three basic prevention strategies covered in the guide. Then learn how they are applied in the home, the school, and the community. Discover examples of how other communities have used the strategies. Take advantage of the e-sources provided for each strategy to learn how they can be adapted to your community's needs. Consider the concrete steps for getting started, which range from talking to your children about alcohol to mobilizing your entire community in a prevention campaign. Use the wealth of Web sites that direct you to more detailed information to help you develop comprehensive programs. Finally, consider seeking help from the State contacts listed at the back of this guide.

A call to action

While the idea of starting a prevention campaign in your community may seem a little daunting, experience indicates that an appeal based on the need to protect children, combined with some friendly persuasion, will get people involved. Studies showing high levels of underage drinking, easy accessibility to alcohol, and lack of compliance with existing laws can serve as triggers to action. Small, informed groups who actively address these types of problems are able to achieve remarkable outcomes. The following survey results show that the desire for change is there:

Strategies That Work

Research and experience show that successful alcohol prevention programs should incorporate one or more of the following three science-based strategies:

Reduce the availability of alcohol

The most documented principle in alcohol use prevention is this: Make it harder for young people to get alcohol, and they will drink less. Communities can make alcohol less available by promoting responsible adult behavior and holding adults accountable when they provide alcohol to minors; by raising the price of beer, wine, and liquor; or by reducing the number of places where alcohol is sold or served.

Improve the effectiveness of law enforcement

Communities can better enforce policies designed to stop drinking among children and adolescents. Studies find that existing laws regulating underage drinking are often not enforced. When these laws are ignored, it not only enables young people to drink, but also communicates a general indifference.

Change social norms

Children draw conclusions about alcohol-related social norms from what they see and hear about alcohol in their families and communities. These norms strongly influence their own attitudes and behaviors regarding alcohol. When communities consistently prevent underage access to alcohol, publicize and enforce alcohol-related laws, and limit the promotion of alcohol, they reinforce the message that alcohol use by young people is unacceptable.

Choosing an Initial Strategy

As you plan your campaign, you should choose one or a combination of strategies from this guide that will work best for your community. The ideas listed below will help you decide. The strategy should be:

• Direct, so people will understand what is being proposed.
• Possible within the resources, constraints, and influence of your community or agency.
• Generally supported by citizens, businesses, and public officials.
• Able to show some results in the short term-in one year, for example.
• Able to help build coalitions or partnerships that will broaden the reach of the campaign.

Start now and your community will be a safer and healthier place for young people of all ages.

About the Author

NIH is the nation's medical research agency - making important medical discoveries that improve health and save lives. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting medical research.