Keeping teens from drinking is done in the home, one teen at a
time
Morgan Hill City Council recently passed a social host law that imposes a $1,000 fine on adults who allow underage drinking on their property. Police say they needed this tool to handle parties at homes and hotels where adults allow teens to drink.
In addition, the California Board of Equalization has reclassified so-called alcopops, sweetened malt beverages that also include distilled liquor, a move that will make the drinks more expensive due to higher taxes, and harder to find, due to stricter requirements about the kind of liquor license required to sell them. Alcopops are especially popular with young drinkers because the fruity, sweet flavors mask the often bitter flavor of alcohol.
Both of these moves were made in pursuit of a laudable goal – reducing underage drinking – and we support them.
However, we must not delude ourselves into thinking that they’ll do the job. These laws will make it more difficult for teens to drink, but they won’t prevent it entirely.
That’s because the most important factor in preventing underage drinking can’t be legislated – involved parents. That’s something that can’t be legislated. If parents aren’t involved with their children’s lives, no number of new laws will make a real difference in preventing underage drinking.
Parents who have good lines of communication with their children, who set and enforce clear guidelines for behavior, and who keep track of their teens’ activities are doing the hard work to prevent underage drinking by their children.
Kudos to the Morgan Hill City Council for increasing fines for adults who turn a blind eye to underage drinking. Kudos to the California Board of Equalization for properly classifying alcopops.
But the real work of keeping teens from drinking is done in the home, one teen at a time.
It’s up to parents to understand that reality and make a difference in their teens’ lives.
