“It’s never too early to talk to your preteens/teens about alcohol. Your advice has the best chance to influence their outlook on alcohol (and other substances) if you talk about it openly and honestly. Establishing and enforcing clear rules when they are younger will increase the likelihood of them accepting rules when they are older teens.” (Operation Parent \The Parent Handbook)
Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused substance by teens in the United States. Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows down the function of the brain. The legal drinking age for NY is 21. Learn more at Get the Facts About Underage Drinking | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) (nih.gov)
- 50.4% of Pleasantville High School Seniors reported using alcohol in past 30-day use survey. 2022 Search Institute Survey administered to grades 7-12.
- Young people consume more than 90% of their alcohol by binge drinking. (NSDUH)
- Kids who begin drinking before age 15 are 4x more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age 21 (NIAA, 1998)
- For children and adolescents, alcohol can interfere with normal brain development. Your child’s brain is not fully developed until around the age of 25. As a result, the harms from drinking alcohol can alter the development of the areas of the brain related to learning, memory, and judgment.
- Underage drinking can lead your child to make poor decisions and engage in risky/harmful behavior that can result in a variety of serious consequences such as injuries, sexual assaults, legal trouble, and even death.
Helpful Links
A selection of resources we hope you’ll find helpful!