With Purim quickly approaching, it feels like a good opportunity to once again consider the dangers of teenage drinking. My personal preference – and the preference of just about every professional in the entire world – is that teenagers should refrain from drinking alcohol on Purim or any other day because no good comes from it. Alas, teenagers are curious and skilled at finding pathways to drinking, usually through alcohol stored at home. And some parents and community leaders seem to give drinking a pass on Purim, unfortunately.
The
good news is that most teenagers will choose not to drink on Purim, though some
will. With that in mind, I put together 10 strategies parents might consider
well before we start to read the Megillah
to mitigate the dangers of teenage drinking.
1)
If you believe that your teenager will drink on Purim, try to keep the drinking
at home and under your watch. In addition to having the capacity to monitor
consumption, you will not need to worry about the risk of driving while under
the influence.
2)
If you suspect that your teenager plans to attend a get-together where alcohol
will be served, you have an obligation to speak with the host, whether it is a rebbe,
teacher, or another parent. The host should have a plan for getting kids back
home safely.
3)
Please speak with your teenagers about the dangers of drinking and driving. It
goes without saying that they should not enter a car in which the driver has
been drinking. They should have the option to call you or take an Uber if
necessary. Teenagers should also be made aware that if they are pulled over by
police, registering any blood alcohol level is considered drinking under the
influence and will have serious legal consequences.
4)
Besides drinking and driving, teenagers might consider other problems with
consuming alcohol on Purim. Because drinking lowers inhibitions, teenagers
often say or do things that they will later regret. Drinking is commonly
associated with unnecessary and unwanted drama.
5)
Teenagers often have a difficult time navigating how much they are drinking on
Purim. They tend to consume more drinks per occasion than adults because they
experience less sedation effects from alcohol. Nevertheless, they should
understand that they are still intoxicated and impaired, just less sedated.
6)
Teenagers should know some basics about alcohol content – that, for instance, standard
drinks like a 12-oz. beer, 5-oz. glass of wine, or 1.5-oz. shot glass of liquor
possess the same quantity of alcohol. That being said, beer may be a somewhat
safer option because it takes longer to drink.
7)
Besides the time factor, other variables that impact alcohol intoxication
include weight and previous eating. People who weigh less get drunk faster, on
average. Eating before drinking can limit levels of intoxication and help
teenagers drink more safely.
8)
Once a person is intoxicated, it takes time to become un-intoxicated! The
general rule is that each drink requires about one to two hours to become
sober. Teenagers should also know that coffee or showers or exercise or any
other potions advocated on social media might make a drinker feel more awake
but will do nothing to reduce the level of intoxication.
9)
Of course, alcohol should not be mixed with other substances. Drinking alcohol
and smoking pot together, for example, enhances impairment and risk of injury.
Alcohol can also interact problematically with prescribed drugs, especially
those that have some sedating effects, such as benzodiazepines and
antihistamines.
10)
It is not such a big deal to speak with your children about drinking. They
might not like it and roll their eyes, but who cares! This is the cost of being
a good parent. It is much better that they receive alcohol information from
their parents who love them than from their buddies on social media who have
less concern about their welfare.
We
wish everyone a safe and meaningful Purim. Chag
Sameach.
