00:00Annabelle Petty is focusing on her final year of school, so for the 18-year-old, parties
00:08and drinking are not a big priority.
00:09If I go to an 18th or a friend's party, I'll have a few, but I'm not really a big drinker.
00:16Her parents first allowed her small amounts of alcohol at family occasions a couple of
00:21years ago.
00:22Now I like it.
00:23If we introduce it safely, then you'll know to drink safely when you're by yourself.
00:28Yet the reality of underage drinking, and what parents allow, varies.
00:33I had friends whose parents were just like, yeah, OK, you can take a 10-pack or whatever
00:37to parties.
00:38And I was like, oh, you know, why can't I do that?
00:41But at the same time, I was like, well, that's probably too much.
00:45Parents these days feel under huge pressure, huge social pressure, to just give in rather
00:50than just say, look, it's clearly not in your interest.
00:55Your brain's still developing.
00:57Your brain's very sensitive.
00:59Alcohol can damage the development of connections in the teenage brain.
01:04That are really important to learning how to stop doing really stupid things, to make
01:09really planned actions for the future.
01:11Young people are less likely to drink than the previous generation.
01:15In 2019, 66% of 14 to 17-year-olds had never drunk alcohol, compared with 28% nearly 20
01:25years ago.
01:26But 81% of young people who do have engaged in risky drinking.
01:32I have been involved over the years with parents who've lost their child due to alcohol.
01:36And often they've lost their child because they haven't followed their heart.
01:40They've done, they've buckled to pressure.
01:44Each state has different rules around underage drinking.
01:48In some states, adults can supply alcohol in some settings, but it must be under supervision
01:55and with the approval from the child's parent or guardian.
01:59In other states, it's only legal if you are the parent or guardian.
02:04We've seen many claims where things have gone wrong with consumption of alcohol by teenagers,
02:09you know, from minor to quite catastrophic car accidents.
02:13Parents are being reminded it's okay to say no.
02:17Try to delay your child's first drink for as long as you possibly can.
02:21Navigating the tricky teenage years.
02:25For more information, visit www.FEMA.gov
Comments