Factors that Lead To Alcohol Abuse

It is known that alcohol abuse can be hereditary. It can also be passed along by a child’s environment and the effects of a society in which a child is raised. All of these developmental issues increase the chances of a child being an alcohol abuser.

Parents and the Trail to Alcohol Abuse

These are not the only factors; however, they are the most important. They are the common indicator in most cases of people that abuse alcohol. In the majority of instances, the trail to alcohol abuse begins at home with one or both parents being alcoholics.

Secondary Factors that Lead to Alcohol Abuse

Societal and environmental factors that include peer pressure and alcohol advertisements are usually secondary issues that increase a problem but the root-cause of the problem begins with the way alcohol is used in the child’s home environment.

Children of Alcohol Abusers are More Susceptible

Not all children that grow up in a family with parents that abuse alcohol are affected by this.However, statistics show that alcohol abuse is passed along from parents to children. The children of alcohol abusing parents are more susceptible to the dangers presented by society and media that promotes the abuse of alcohol.

Children of Alcohol Abusers – Attitude about Drinking

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that youngsters who see their parents drink, will be predisposed to the attitude that drinking is harmless. These children also begin to consume alcohol at an earlier age. Because of this, there is a great chance that these children will abuse alcohol even before they are adults. Parents that abuse alcohol will have a big influence on the drinking behavior of their off-springs. The role they play is very important in shaping the way their children think about alcohol and drinking habits. The parental influences can be a negative motivator or a positive one. Some children may grow up with a negative attitude about drinking after witnessing the trials and tribulations of their parents. However, usually children follow their parent in dinking behaviors.

Children Introduction to Alcohol

In many households, alcohol is introduced to children by parents. Many children in these circumstances get their first taste of liquor from adults,administered either through social religious observations or through some strange habit.

Alcoholic Parents Lead To Alcohol Abusing Children

Alcoholic Parents that drink heavily, harm the lives of their families and offspring in American society. They damage the lives the children who then are predisposed to alcohol abuse and other developmental issues. These children carry these scars and then pass them on to the next generation.

Though the offense in considered to be neither a traffic infraction nor a criminal offense. However, if you submit the breath test and your BAC is over the legal limit then the first suspension under 21 is for six months and the second suspension under the age of 21 is of one year. In case you refuse to submit the breath test, then your license is suspended for one year and for the second time for 18 months. You will be arrested immediately for the next offense committed.

Parent’s Responsibilities for Underage Drinking

Though underage drinking has become quite common these days due to change in lifestyle, it is the responsibility of the parents to monitor the alcohol abuse by their teenager. Some parents feel it is safer for their teenager to drink at home rather than at parties. However, according to the social host liability laws, parents are responsible for underage drinking in their home. If a parent serves or provides alcohol to an underage drinker at their home, then he/she is liable to cause an accident and gets injured.

Apart from criminal charges, it can lead to a civil lawsuit if you allow your child under 21 to drink alcohol. Social host laws are dependent on the state where the underage lives but parents can be financially responsible for their child’s medical bills, property damage and pain and suffering if an accident is caused due to alcohol abuse.

Therefore, parents should be aware of the activities of their teenagers and discuss the effects of underage drinking and warn them about the consequences. It can affect their future and ruin their lives.

Social Norms Helping to Control Underage Drinking

It is a pervasive problem to control alcohol abuse among adolescents and avoid underage drinking. Though the percentage of youngsters drinking alcohol has reduced considerably, the number is still dangerously high. Statistics indicate that forty percent of adolescents drink by 8th grade, and 55 percent drink at least once by 12th grade.

Parenting styles can also influence them and the way they interact with them can also control alcohol abuse and drunk driving. Parents are of three different types:

1. Authoritarian parents control their children and discipline them without much warmth. This results in alcohol abuse without the knowledge of their parents.
2. Permissive parents control and discipline them with warmth. This results in children discussing with their parents and avoiding alcohol abuse.
3. Neglectful parents do not bother about the activities of their children

How Parents can help in Controlling Alcohol Abuse?

There are various ways in which parents can help in avoiding alcohol abuse by their children:

• Talk to them early and frequently about the effects of alcohol abuse. Youngsters, who are aware of the views of their parents about underage drinking, avoid it as they know the expectations of their parents.
• They should establish policies as early as possible and be consistent in reinforcing rules and expectations in your teenager. They should discuss with them and ensure that valid message about the ill-effects of alcohol abuse is passed to their children.
• They should monitor the activities of their child as well as their child’s friends
• They should discuss the DWI laws of the state and underage drinking and driving
• They should not serve alcohol to anybody’s child.

Evidence indicates that alcohol use and binge drinking by parents have adverse effect on youngsters and can lead them to adopt it at a later stage of their life. It is the responsibility of the parents to avoid or delay the onset of drinking among them for as long as possible.