Underage drinking is an ADULT problem: Anywhere there is a child drinking there MUST be an adult involved...either selling, providing, allowing, or simply looking away.
What can you, as an individual, do about underage alcohol and drug use in your community, in your house, or in the schools? Plenty. Get involved! Here’s how.
In the Community
What role do you play in our community? Depending on whether you are a business person, policymaker or concerned citizen, there are many steps you can take to prevent underage alcohol and drug use.
If you own or manage a business in your community:
- Adopt a written drug and alcohol-free workplace policy.
- Support MCYAF community social marketing efforts – display our community posters. Contact us to learn how.
- Provide employees with information about local prevention and treatment resources.
- Support youth with positive experiences and opportunities such as mentoring and jobs.
- Support alcohol-free events and activities in our community.
- Support schools and agencies that provide positive experiences and opportunities for youth.
- Provide party packs for kids to have fun safely (pizza, soda, games, passes/gift cards for movies, bowling, arcade games, etc.) Contact MCYAF and we'll tell you how.
If you are a policymaker:
- Be a government of the people and not of special interests (tobacco and alcohol).
- Support prevention and treatment programs and policies.
- Bring available resources to your community that support local efforts.
- Direct a portion of local fines to support prevention.
- Limit the number of alcohol and tobacco outlets and hours of operation.
- Ensure that policies are enforced.
- Establish policies that lead to treatment and deter use.
- Ensure everyone has equal access to comprehensive treatment.
As a concerned citizen:
- Understand the dangers of teen alcohol and substance use.
- Obey the law - Do not supply alcohol to minors.
- Watch out for teens in your neighborhood - support and protect their well-being.
- Vote for leaders that support anti-drug platforms.
- Support alcohol-free events in the community.
- Support positive opportunities and activities for youth.
In your Home
As a parent, step-parent, or caregiver, you play a vital role in influencing your child. You serve as a role model on the use of alcohol, control the availability of alcohol in your home, and help set your child's expectations concerning drinking behaviors. A recent study shows that children whose parents are involved in their lives - hold regular conversations, attend after school events, and listen to their problems, etc. - are less likely to drink or smoke.
In the home:
- Make sure you are at home for your children's parties and be sure they are alcohol free.
- Monitor alcohol use in your home and keep track of the supply.
- Make it clear to your teen that you don’t allow non-chaperoned parties or other teen gatherings in your home.
- Encourage him/her to invite friends over when you are at home. (The more entertaining your teen does in your home, the more you will know about your teen’s friends and activities.)
- Connect with other parents – call the party host to make sure that a responsible adult will be present and that alcohol will not be available.
- Keep track of your teen’s activities, plans and whereabouts.
- Establish clear “No Alcohol”, “No Tobacco” and “No Drug” rules and expectations.
- Set a good example.
- Use alcohol moderately.
- Never drink and drive or ride in a car with a driver who has been drinking.
- Help your child build healthy friendships. (If your teen’s friends use, your teen is more likely to use, too.)
- Encourage your teen to talk with you about his/her problems and concerns.
- Listen without judgment.
- Talk to other parents about ways to send a consistent, clear message that underage drinking is not acceptable behavior or a rite of passage.
- Learn the warning signs of alcohol and drug use.
- Sign the parent pledge to have an alcohol free and drug free home for teen gatherings. (High School District 207 families)
In the School
Whatever your role in the school — teacher, principal, coach, nurse, guidance counselor, or support staff — you play an important role in preventing underage drinking. In the school setting, children draw conclusions from what they see and hear about alcohol from their friends, classmates, and teachers. When schools establish alcohol policies that clearly state expectations and penalties regarding alcohol use by students, they help reinforce the fact that underage drinking is not an acceptable form of behavior.
In the school:
- Adopt policies that deter use.
- Ensure staff is regularly trained to identify students with substance use issues.
- Support full integration of the social norms campaign.
- Provide regular prevention and resource information to parents.
- Ensure systems encourage identification, treatment, and recovery.
- Participate in administering student use surveys.
- Ensure that educational programs are based on data.
MCYAF's Role
MCYAF and its partners are committed to:
- Change social norms
- Promote community awareness
- Promote parental responsibility and education
- Promote youth awareness
- Policies and laws that deter use and their strict enforcement
- Compliance checks
