Facts for my son or daughter
Your children need information to make good decisions. Don't wait until a problem arises to talk to them about drinking alcohol.
About the body:
- With the first sip of alcohol, the drinker is affected.
- Alcohol moves through the bloodstream to every organ in the body, including the brain.
- Once alcohol enters the brain, it changes the way a person behaves. People do things they would not normally do. The ability to make good decisions is affected.
- The drinker also may lose balance and be unable to see or speak clearly. The more alcohol a person drinks, the worse the effects are.
- Alcohol can have lasting effects on the brain, impairing how a person learns, thinks, and remembers.
- Alcohol can kill. If a person drinks heavily in a short period of time, alcohol poisoning can occur. A person can vomit, pass out, or even die.
- Some people get addicted to alcohol.
About peers:
- Children often think that other people their age are drinking regularly, but most are not.
- Alcohol can hurt your child-even if he or she is not the one drinking. If your child is around people who are drinking, he or she has an increased risk of being seriously injured or affected by violence. At the very least, your child may have to deal with someone who is sick, out of control, or unable to take care of themselves.
- As children get older, some of their friends may start drinking, and may get into trouble from drinking too much. Tell your child that there is help for people who have alcohol problems. It is OK to get help.
About the law:
- It is illegal for anyone to buy or possess alcohol until 21 years of age.
- Even one drink can cause a person to lose their driver's license.
