Navigating teenage drinking can be a challenging time for parents. The science tells us that drinking during teenage years is harmful and there are laws around supplying alcohol to young people. But as many parents know, the reality of what happens at teenage parties can be very different to what's recommended as best practice.
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00:00Annabelle Petty is focusing on her final year of school, so for the 18-year-old, parties
00:08and drinking are not a big priority.
00:09If I go to an 18th or a friend's party, I'll have a few, but I'm not really a big drinker.
00:16Her parents first allowed her small amounts of alcohol at family occasions a couple of
00:21years ago.
00:22Now I like it.
00:23If we introduce it safely, then you'll know to drink safely when you're by yourself.
00:28Yet the reality of underage drinking, and what parents allow, varies.
00:33I had friends whose parents were just like, yeah, OK, you can take a 10-pack or whatever
00:37to parties.
00:38And I was like, oh, you know, why can't I do that?
00:41But at the same time, I was like, well, that's probably too much.
00:45Parents these days feel under huge pressure, huge social pressure, to just give in rather
00:50than just say, look, it's clearly not in your interest.
00:55Your brain's still developing.
00:57Your brain's very sensitive.
00:59Alcohol can damage the development of connections in the teenage brain.
01:04That are really important to learning how to stop doing really stupid things, to make
01:09really planned actions for the future.
01:11Young people are less likely to drink than the previous generation.
01:15In 2019, 66% of 14 to 17-year-olds had never drunk alcohol, compared with 28% nearly 20
01:25years ago.
01:26But 81% of young people who do have engaged in risky drinking.
01:32I have been involved over the years with parents who've lost their child due to alcohol.
01:36And often they've lost their child because they haven't followed their heart.
01:40They've done, they've buckled to pressure.
01:44Each state has different rules around underage drinking.
01:48In some states, adults can supply alcohol in some settings, but it must be under supervision
01:55and with the approval from the child's parent or guardian.
01:59In other states, it's only legal if you are the parent or guardian.
02:04We've seen many claims where things have gone wrong with consumption of alcohol by teenagers,
02:09you know, from minor to quite catastrophic car accidents.
02:13Parents are being reminded it's okay to say no.
02:17Try to delay your child's first drink for as long as you possibly can.
02:21Navigating the tricky teenage years.
02:25For more information, visit www.FEMA.gov