Pubdate: Sun, 26 Aug 2001
Source: Times Union (NY)
Section: Perspective, Pg. B1
Copyright: 2001 Capital Newspapers Division of The Hearst Corporation
Contact:  http://www.timesunion.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/452
Author: David Hanson
Note: David Hanson is a professor of sociology at the State University 
College at Potsdam and is the author of more than 300 publications, 
including two recent books on alcohol. He can be contacted through his Web 
site, "Alcohol: Problems and Solutions" 
(http://www2.potsdam.edu/alcohol-info), which provides research-based 
information on drunken driving, binge drinking and other alcohol issues.

TEACH MODERATION AND HARM REDUCTION

Abusive drinking by some young people continues to be a problem. Although 
most youth drink in moderation with no problems, a minority sometimes 
experiences negative outcomes. Unfortunately, the popular bumper-sticker 
solutions commonly proposed simply won't work.

Tough enforcement of underage drinking laws, prohibiting alcohol 
advertising, increasing taxes on alcohol beverages and similar measures 
have all been shown by research to be ineffective. Even worse, they are 
sometimes counter-productive, being part of the problem rather than of the 
solution.

Raising the drinking age actually made drinking more appealing to young 
people while driving consumption underground where it could not be 
moderated by older adults. Our current age-specific prohibition has proven 
to be as unsuccessful as was national prohibition in the '20s and '30s.

This isn't surprising. Raising the minimum drinking age to 21 is a radical 
social experiment and the United States now has the highest drinking age in 
the world. And throughout most of its history, the United States had no 
mandated minimum drinking age. Parents rather than bureaucrats were 
considered better judges of what was best for their offspring.

In the United States, 18-year-olds legally are adults. They can vote, serve 
on juries, hold public office, marry, divorce, adopt children, have 
abortions without parental approval, serve in the military and in every 
other way enjoy the rights of adulthood except one to have a drink. It's 
not surprising that forcing adults to abide by children's rules is far less 
than successful.

We will never make real progress against the problem of youthful alcohol 
abuse until we accept the lessons taught by the long experience of other 
cultures in Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal, for instance where most 
people drink, often daily, but experience very few problems.

There are three main keys to the success of such groups:

The substance of alcohol is seen as neutral in and of itself. It is neither 
a terrible poison nor a potion that can magically transform lives. It's how 
it's used that is important. Naturally, there is no effort to stigmatize 
alcohol by equating it with illegal drugs.

There are two options that are legally, morally and socially equally 
acceptable abstaining or drinking in moderation. At the same time, there is 
no tolerance for abusive drinking by anyone of any age at any time.

Education about alcohol starts early and in the home. Young people are 
taught, under their parents' supervision, through word and deed, that if 
people choose to drink they most do so in moderation. These successful 
groups would agree that it's better to learn to drink in the parents' house 
than in the fraternity house.

But isn't it illegal to serve alcohol to anyone under age 21? Not 
necessarily. Most states permit parents to serve alcohol within their home 
to their children of any age. But it isn't essential that young people 
consume alcohol in order to learn about moderation. We teach middle school 
students civics long before they are old enough to vote, serve on juries or 
hold public office.

Parental example is the single most important factor in the behavior of 
young people. And what we do is much more important than what we say. Drink 
in moderation and, in spite of youthful experimentation, your children will 
almost certainly grow up to use alcohol in moderation.

I recently reviewed all research studies that evaluated the effectiveness 
of alcohol-education programs. Abstinence-only programs were remarkable for 
their ineffectiveness. Those that contained at least some attention to 
moderation were demonstrably more effective.

We also need to teach, by word and example, harm reduction. This includes 
such things as never drinking and driving and never riding with a driver 
who has never consuming more than one alcohol drink per hour, always 
consuming food or "munchies" while drinking, never becoming intoxicated, 
and knowing that the alcohol content of a beer, a glass of dinner wine and 
a shot of whiskey are all equivalent.

But what about the influence of peers? Research has demonstrated that young 
people, like older people, tend to select peers whose beliefs and values 
are similar to their own.

As parents, we need to be empowered by realizing that we have more 
influence over our young people than their peers, alcohol advertising, 
drinking-age laws, schools or anything else. If we use alcohol in 
moderation and teach our offspring harm reduction, they will almost 
certainly drink in moderation and avoid harm.
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MAP posted-by: Beth