Additional Information
Italian Teens Frown on Binge Drinking
by David J. Hanson, Ph.D.
Italian young people look down on friends who drink too much, according to research presented at a symposium organized by Italy’s Permanent Observatory on Alcohol and Youth.
Italians consume about as much alcohol as do those in many countries but have low rates of alcohol-related problems. “There are protective cultural factors in Italy, says Dr. Enrico Tempesta, a scientist at the government-sponsored Observatory. “Here, children and teenagers disapprove and tend to exclude from their circle a contemporary who gets drunk,” he explains.
Research has long found that many cultures have a very high rate of alcohol consumption combined with a very low rate of alcohol-related problems. These successful groups include Greeks, Jews, Portuguese, Spaniards, and many others around the world.
There appear to be at least three common “keys to success” with alcohol consumption:
- Alcohol itself is seen as a neutral substance - neither good
nor bad in itself. It's neither a poison nor a magic elixir that
can solve peoples' problems. It's how alcohol is used that is
important.
- People can choose either of two equally acceptable options: (a) to abstain or (b) to drink responsibly and in moderation. What is totally unacceptable for anyone under any circumstance is the abuse of alcohol. Alcohol abuse is simply never tolerated.
- People learn how to drink from an early age within the safe and supporting environment of the home. They don't learn how to drink from their friends and acquaintances, who aren't looking out for their best interests. Common sense suggests that it's better to learn how to drink in the parent's house than in the fraternity house.
As parents, we actually have more influence on our children than anyone or anything else, although we often erroneously feel powerless in the face of television, movies, our children's peers and other parts of society.
Our children learn from observing our behavior and we are the most significant role models in their lives. Therefore, we need to:
- Be good role models. We need to be living, day-to-day examples
of good drinking behavior.
· - Reject "do as I say, not as I do."If we abuse alcohol, we can't expect our children not to follow in our footsteps when they begin to drink.
- Convey appropriate attitudes. We should never laugh at intoxication or inappropriate behavior. We can use news events, TV episodes, movies, or personal events as opportunities to discuss what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior.
Instead of stigmatizing alcohol and trying to scare children into permanent abstinence, we need to recognize that it is not alcohol but rather the abuse of alcohol that is the problem.
Teaching responsible use doesn’t require the consumption of alcohol any more than teaching world geography requires visiting Fiji or teaching civics requires that children run for elected office or vote in presidential elections. We teach civics to prepare children for the day when they can vote and assume other civic responsibilities if they choose to do so.
Of course, letting children consume alcohol in moderation within the family and home setting is especially valuable in helping them realize that drinking really is a natural and normal activity that does not, in itself, confer "adulthood" or "maturity." Either choosing to abstain or to drink responsibly is a real sign of maturity and good judgment.
Because either drinking in moderation or abstaining are both equally acceptable options for adults, we must prepare children for either choice. To do otherwise is both ineffective and irresponsible.
References and Readings
Additional Information
- Legal Drinking Age
- Underage Drinking
- The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984
- The Drinking Age Should be Lowered
- Europeans Learn Responsible Drinking
- Rethinking Alcohol Use by the Emerging Adult
- Why We Should Lower the Drinking Age to 19
- Legal Drinking Age: Science vs. Ideology
- Underage Drinking is Often Legal
- More: Youth Issues
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