WHAT IS AMERICA'S ALCOHOL AWARENESS?

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, so let’s talk about alcohol.

Parents are still the number one reason kids give for not using alcohol and drugs.

Parenting is a hard job. You rarely get thanked and pushing back against unhealthy behaviors is hard. We know you want the best for your kids – and when you know better, you do better.

Americans are more into using alcohol – and less into understanding alcohol’s negative effects, considering that:

•  Alcohol is a carcinogen and is linked to cancer. In fact, alcohol is responsible for an estimated 15 percent of US breast cancer cases (35,000/year) and deaths (6,600/year).
• Underage drinking causes 4,300 deaths and 189,000 emergency room visit per year and  
• Alcohol damages our stem cells.
• People who consume more than one drink a day are more likely to die earlier and have greater health problems.

Why is alcohol the most widely used drug? The two biggest predictors of drug use: High availability (it’s legal) and low perception of harm. Alcohol advertising paints a picture of fun, joy, relaxation, empowerment, style, etc. Women, in particular, are being marketed to more than ever, leading to a 130% increase in alcohol-related deaths among women in the last 16 years. $5 billion is spent in alcohol advertising per year.

We don’t have $5 billion for counter advertising, but we do have the Safe Homes Smart Parties campaign, a way to reach parents, the biggest influencers in preventing underage drinking. We are renaming the campaign SAFE HOMES/SMART PARENTS.  Who doesn’t want to be a Smart Parent?

It may be unpopular in your social circle to be a Smart Parent, but is being a “cool parent” more important than keeping your kids safe? Use our tools and help us challenge incorrect perceptions about alcohol with your family and friends. Our bottle of “common sense” is a symbol for what parents should be serving their children instead of alcohol. But, common sense is influenced by environmental cues – and healthy common sense about alcohol is lacking. Help us share healthy common sense with other parents by discouraging underage drinking.  

This is a challenging topic. If you have questions or need guidance, we invite you to email us at info@informedfamilies.org or send a message on social media.

Peggy