Experimenting with alcohol

Dear Counsellor:

I am a 16-year-old youth who has recently been allowed to go out unsupervised. It is a great relief that I can be free to make choices that do not have to get approved by my parent(s). Some friends and I went to a popular hang-out spot and we decided to try alcohol. I know I am not allowed, but I never wanted to be the odd one out … so I indulged. To be honest it was not as bad as my parents had suggested. We are going out again this weekend, and I figure there will be more of the same. I do not feel that it would be a problem. What do you think? K.J.

Dear K.J.,

As a 16-year-old youth, it is quite commendable that you have displayed the maturity that your parents support your unsupervised outings. Now, you stated that you felt relief, having the freedom to make choices on your own. Remember that with the freedom entrusted in you comes a great responsibility to yourself and to your parents. They have come to that place where they are comfortable enough with you socialising unaccompanied (by them), and they expect that you will make good decisions. If you know that they would not approve when they find out … you will have issues with trust, and then they may not want to facilitate your newfound freedom further.

Most teens experiment with drugs and alcohol. Many youths experiment with cigarettes and marijuana as well. Fortunately, most teens who experiment with drugs and alcohol do not become addicted. However, there is always that possibility. Common reasons behind teen drug use include curiosity, developmental need for experimentation (natural part of growing up), peer pressure, stress, and emotional issues. It’s difficult to prevent teenagers from experimenting with alcohol, but parents and caregivers ought to have the discussion on sensible drinking habits. It is possible to drink at a level that is less risky, while still having fun. There are several things you can do to make sure you stay within low-risk levels and don’t get to a stage where you are no longer capable of controlling your drinking.

These include:

■ Setting limits for yourself and sticking to them.

■ Trying drinks with a lower alcohol content.

■ Eating before or while you are drinking.

Just for emphasis, the safest level of alcohol drinking for teenagers is no drinking, especially for young people under 15 years of age. If older teenagers do drink alcohol, parents and caregivers can minimise the risks by providing adult supervision and encouraging consumption guidelines. The discussion on how drinking affects the developing brain is very important. The effect on the ability to make sensible decisions is usually diminished when alcohol is consumed – impacting sexual activities, capacity to properly operate motor vehicles, and general safety of self. Alcohol experimentation can also lead to problems with alcohol later in life.

It is also important that you understand that you do not have to drink an alcoholic beverage to have fun. K.J., the misuse of ANY substance will always have dire consequences. Be open about your experimentation with your parents, seek to learn all that you can on the effects on the body, and identify other ways of entertaining yourself. I would also suggest that you learn creative ways of using the word ‘NO’. Being a teenager is an awesome time. In whatever you are engaging, use the teachings of your parents to guide your decisions, use moderation, be safe, and enjoy your teen years.

All the best, K.J.