Parents in Athens and throughout Georgia may have already discussed the consequences and dangers of underage drinking and binge drinking with their kids, but a new report suggests that parents may need to do more than just warn their kids not to drink alcohol until they are legally able to do so.
According to a report from the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, some kids are starting to drink alcohol before their teenage years. Some are getting their hands on alcohol as early as the age of nine. This may be because kids have access to their parents’ alcohol without their parents knowing.
Instead of simply telling their children not to drink alcohol, parents should teach their children about the dangers of drinking too much alcohol or drinking alcohol at an early age. Parents should also make sure their children cannot access alcohol in the home since that is where many kids get their alcohol from.
The report from Georgia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities has caused community leaders to become very concerned about the health and safety of teens, especially since about 60 percent of teens admit to drinking or trying alcohol before turning 12. Community leaders throughout Georgia are hoping to change this by creating more awareness of the long-term social and legal consequences of underage drinking.
Underage drinking may result in minor legal problems when police bust high school and college parties, but it may also lead to an arrest for underage drinking and driving, even when folks think they are being responsible by not getting drunk. When underage folks have blood alcohol readings that are below 0.08, they may face DUI charges in Georgia since they cannot legally consume alcohol. Underage drinking may also lead to serious mental health problems and may affect students’ grades and ability to concentrate in school.
Source: WJBF, “Boozing teens on the rise in Georgia,” Courtney Elledge, March 4, 2013
- Our Athens, Georgia, firm provides counsel to those who have been charged with underage drinking, drunk driving and other alcohol-related offenses. To learn more about our firm and practice, please visit our firm’s page on underage DUI charges in Georgia.