I THINK THERE IS TOO MUCH OF A
stigma surrounding alcohol and
that contributes to the mysticism
and draw of alcohol. If you allow
kids to drink freely — lowering the
drinking age to 18 — you dispel the
stigma, and eventually the draw
of alcohol as a tool of rebellion
will be dissolved.”
— ETHAN —
“DRINKING AT HOME WHILE
“I believe you can
fun. “I think there is
underage may be wrong, but
balance it because
too much of a stigma
nothing can be done if no one
I consume it, but
surrounding alcohol
is aware. It’s a rule that’s
not heavily enough
and that contributes
placed but not necessarily
that it would prevent
to the mysticism and
enforced, unless caught.”
me from any day-
draw of alcohol. If you
— HARSHITHA —
to-day activities,”
allow kids to drink
Doyinsola says.

freely — lowering the
And Ethan says
drinking age to 18 —
“I DRINK AT PARTIES SOMETIMES.

students shouldn’t
you dispel the stigma,
I’m not sure why, it’s just good.

feel the need to
and eventually the
­— MARIA —
“get blackout
draw of alcohol as a
drunk” every time
tool of rebellion will
they drink or use any
be dissolved.”
For now, of course, the legal drinking type of drug. “Then you have a problem,” he
age is 21. So, where does most of this says. “Everything in moderation is the key to
generation’s underage drinking take place? a healthy mix of fun and business.”
But Elyse says drinking “messes with
Most said at parties, fraternity houses and
how you think,” and that kids still do it
college athletic events.

Maria said while she mainly drinks at because they don’t think about that when
parties hosted by friends, there are also they are at parties or other events where
times where she enjoys the occasional glass alcohol is introduced.

Though these comments may come as a
of wine or champagne over dinner at home
or at family parties, which according to shock to some, Irene Khaksari, a guidance
counselor at a Howard County high school
Maria, her parents condone.

Just because underage drinking is illegal says, the responses collected here are not
does not prevent kids from having access shocking or surprising to her in the slightest.

They are “a micro evaluation of the macro
to booze, says senior Harshitha. “Drinking
at home while underage may be wrong, but issue,” she says.

Khaksari says that parents can start a
nothing can be done if no one is aware.

It’s a rule that’s placed but not necessarily conversation with their teens on this issue by
removing “the anxiety” teens often associate
enforced, unless caught.”
Despite their young age, many students with talking about underage drinking.

“Approach it openly, honestly and
say it is possible for them to manage
drinking with schoolwork and other genuinely” she says. “Punishing them for
activities. “I’ve seen people at school their open honesty is not going to get the
participate in underage drinking and still conversation moving.”
The teens who do drink see it as a stage
manage to get good grades, and maintain
a steady after-school activity life,” says of life rather than a major issue, Maria
says, adding that the decision to partake
Aneisa, a high school senior.

Kaylee, another senior, agrees. “I think it is in teenage drinking may be more thought
very possible for someone to drink underage out than parents expect. Today’s teens
and it not affect their school work solely care about and consider the facts behind
because some people are good at hiding the issue, Maria adds, reiterating the view
their habits, and as long as the drinking and that as long as drinking is not an everyday
partying doesn’t replace the time used for occurrence, it’s not a problem.

“It’s all good as long as you keep the
school work, I think there can be a balance.

That doesn’t mean I think it’s right, but I do alcohol in the parties and are able to focus
on schoolwork when necessary,” she says. ■
think it’s possible.”
Your Kid
Drinks. Now What?
So, we have heard from the
teens about partying. Now,
how can parents get involved
in the conversation? Dr. Jack
Gladstein, director of the Pediatric
Headache Clinic at University of
Maryland Medical Center, weighs in.

“Start talking, the earlier, the
better,” he says. “Be nonjudgmental
when your kids tell you stuff, so that
conversations can go two ways. You
want to be able to let kids know what
your value system is, and you want to
tell them what you accept and what
you don’t accept.”
Tell your kids what you expect of
them, Gladstein adds. Be consistent
with this, and stay involved in their lives.

“If kids find themselves in an unsafe
place or are not comfortable, they
should feel comfortable for you to say,
‘I am coming to get you, no questions
asked,’” he says. “They should not feel
like they will be judged.”
Societal factors are there, and
they play a big factor in teenage
alcohol consumption.

“When you think about it, almost
every commercial is for a beer or
some kind of drink,” he says. “Kids
feel invincible, they want to fit in, and
society condones it. It is important
that you talk to your kids about what
all is out there and to educate them on
the risks.”
If parents feel that their
child’s health or future
may be at risk due to the
consumption of alcohol,
Gladstein says they should be on
the lookout for these three risk
factors: change in mood or behavior;
poor school performance; or simply
hanging out with “the wrong crowd.”
There is one other important
factor to consider: the effects
of parental drug use in the
family. “If a parent struggles
from an alcohol or drug problem,
it is important for them to be honest
and to open up to their kids about
what they are struggling with,”
Gladstein says.

The bottom line is that the
subject of teen partying may be
uncomfortable but not one that
parents should avoid. ■
—ADRANISHA STEPHENS
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