Alcohol Awareness Month – April 2021

As we pass through the vernal equinox and welcome Spring, we also recognize Alcohol Awareness Month. With the renewed energy and hope that comes with Spring, it is an opportunity to reflect on our relationship with alcohol. I call it a relationship because the ways in which we discuss and use alcohol does have the potential to impact our lives and the lives of our loved ones.  This introspection is appropriate for both adults and children and is especially pertinent for teenagers who are regularly confronted with difficult choices around their peers. The National Institute of Health’s Monitoring the Future Survey found 55.3% of high school seniors had consumed alcohol in the past year. So, how do we begin these conversations?

It is important to recognize first and foremost that alcohol is not inherently “bad.” In fact, we have seen literature suggesting that the polyphenols in red wine may help protect the lining of blood vessels in our hearts, but only when consumed in moderation. We might wonder then, what can we do as individuals and parents to help increase awareness around the impact of alcohol use on the developing mind? There is an abundance of literature that discusses the negative impact alcohol use has on the developing mind. As caregivers, there is much that we can do to support our youth in making healthy choices. Ultimately, it starts with making healthy choices for ourselves, as our children look to us as models for how to navigate the world.

It is important to consider how we speak about alcohol in the house and what messages we send to our children – are parents drinking every day after work? The all too often stated “What a day! I need a drink!” can carry heavy weight when spoken in front of a child or teenager, who undoubtedly looks up to their caregivers and may emulate them. Careful introspection of our own behavior, verbal and actions delivers a strong message to our impressionable children. While our children may “rebel” overtly by insinuating that our behavior toward alcohol is either too restrictive or too liberal, our conduct makes an indelible impression that often serves a guide to how our children develop their own relationship with alcohol. The trite advice of “moderation” may not be trite at all but a good model for all.