Underage drinking is a huge problem in Minnesota and across the United States. According to data from the CDC, underage drinking creates more than $20 billion in economic costs each year, and oftentimes consequences extend beyond our wallets. More than 4,000 underage drinkers die each year as a direct or indirect result of underage drinking, and studies have also shown that underage drinking can lead to poorer grades in school, an increased likelihood of drug use and physical health problems.
One of the groups of underage drinkers who are at the greatest risk for alcohol-related issues are high school juniors and seniors. This is a crucial time in their life for a number of reasons; they are becoming more independent, most have their driver’s license, they are putting the finishing touches on their high school years and are looking towards building a successful future in college or in the work force. There are also two life events in the spring that lend themselves to underage drinking – Prom and Graduation.
Both of these events are significant points in a teen’s life. They indicate that they are making that transition into adulthood, and some of them feel they should be able to enjoy other spoils of adulthood, or at least celebrate the occasion. It would be foolish to sit here and pretend teens don’t drink after these events, especially with the opportunity to access highly reliable Scannable Fake ID online nowadays.
Parenting, Underage Drinking and The Law
The fact of the matter is that underage drinking in Minnesota is a crime punishable by up to 90 days in jail and fines up to $1,000. A child can consume alcohol with their parents, but only in the privacy of their home. This statute only applies to your child, meaning you can’t host a few kids to drink on your property, even if they plan to stay the night and the parents say it’s alright. Hosting a party where underagers consume alcohol can have serious consequences, especially if the underagers harm themselves or others while under the influence, so don’t think you’re immune from trouble if you’re trying to be the “cool” parent.
The best thing you can do as a parent to navigate through these life stages is to sit down and have a serious conversation with your child. We’re not going to sit here and tell you exactly what you need to do and say, but talk to your child about how to handle peer pressure, how alcohol can affect their decision making, the consequences of drinking, and how to avoid problematic situations. Similar to our blog post on what to do if your child has been arrested, it’s also important to be there for your child. Let them know that if they ever find themselves in a bad situation, or if they cave to peer pressure and drink alcohol, that you’ll be willing to help get them home safe. We’ve helped defend kids at trial who drank a few beers and drove home because they feared the consequences from their parents would be worse than the consequences of drinking and driving, and all of them have learned a hard lesson. We’ve not saying there shouldn’t be punishment, but at the end of the day, you don’t want to make a bad decision worse.
With prom and graduation on the horizon, there’s no doubt your child will face some peer pressure in the coming days. Talk to your children about making good decisions so you don’t need to hire us down the road.
