With adolescents gearing up for holiday parties, it's time parents explain them why they should abstain from drinking alcohol. Teenagers are continually exercising their freedom and individualism, and peer pressure is extreme. In all probability, your teens will drink alcohol if their friends are doing so. Even with parents presence at parties, things cannot be guaranteed.
Hence, having The Talk with your teen is most important. This holiday season, parents can try a new way to control teen from drinking alcohol. Educate kids about the scientific substantiation of why drinking alcohol is harmful. Adolescents feel they are indomitable, hence, remember to connect your advice with their personal experiences.
Enlisted below are 5 points parents can discuss with kids to explain alcohol's adverse effects. Kids resorting to drinking alcohol before turning 21 are more prone to becoming alcoholics because nearly half the kids beginning drinking at age 14 or lesser become alcoholic later in lives. Three important body organs most likely to be harmed by alcohol are: Liver: Alcohol curbs the liver's ability of removing poisons, germs and bacteria from blood besides producing immune agents for infection control; Brain: After 2-3 drinks, kids are less likely to remember things happening to them because their brains are not yet fully developed; Heart: Blood flow to heart muscles gets reduced by alcohol consumption.
Besides drinking alcohol can affect your sports performance because your sporting abilities remain impaired for up to 14 hours after drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol can lead to weight gain especially in the stomach. An average alcoholic drink contains almost equal calories as a large baked potato. Besides, theres no nutritional value. Even drinking coffee or similar stimulants cannot help you sober down enough to drive after drinking alcohol.
Largely, adolescents dont effectually understand the adverse effects of alcohol on their bodies. Providing them with scientific evidence behind the harm caused by alcohol causes will, in all probability, restrain them from using and abusing it. The Science Inside Alcohol Project is developing an interactive, Web-based science & health curriculum for middle school students and their families. The project is part of the esteemed The Science Inside series from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Drinking Alcohol
