The Center for Disease Control and Prevention published a report showing that almost half of teenagers are drinking alcoholic beverages. Out of those, approximately 65 percent say they participate in binge drinking. With statistics this high, it is no wonder that so many Athens GA teens are getting pulled over by police and charged with underage DUI.
Fortunately, there are some things that parents can do to help prevent their teens from getting in trouble like this. First, parents can tell their teens clearly what they want them to do in the event that they are confronted by situations that involve alcohol and other substances. Teenagers who know exactly how their parents want them to behave have a higher likelihood of avoiding substances such as tobacco, alcohol and drugs.
Next, parents can assist their teenagers in finding alternative leisure activities that do not involve drugs or alcohol. Parents can also strive to stay informed with regard to what their teens are doing, when they are doing it and with whom. Parents can further limit their teens’ access to various substances by keeping their homes free of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. Finally, Athens GA teens will benefit from knowing about the real dangers of abusing alcohol and driving while drunk and from knowing about other dangers associated with binge drinking.
There is no danger in having an honest conversation with one’s teenager about drugs and alcohol. Indeed, parents have more influence on their teenagers’ behavior than they usually realize. While legal strategies can be employed in defense of a teen who is arrested and accused of underage DUI, an ounce of prevention is most definitely worth a hundred pounds of cure in these instances. Although many teens are able to get their charges dropped and dismissed in the case of a first time DUI allegation, the more important lesson in such instances is this: Teens who have interested and involved parents who give them great advice tend to get into less trouble on the road.
Source: alcoholism.about.com, Tips for Reducing Underage Binge Drinking, Buddy T., Feb. 14, 2014