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Parents, You're Not Done Yet

Have you talked with them about drinking in college?

Parents, you're not done yet
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Tips for Parents

According to the 2000 College Alcohol Survey (Anderson and Gadaleto), college and university administrators estimate alcohol is involved with:

  • 30% of dropouts
  • 36% of academic failures
  • 60% of violent behaviors
  • 64% of unsafe sexual practices
  • 70% of acquaintance rapes
The misuse of alcohol by underage students and by students over 21 remains a problem for some in spite of laws, campus policies, and college programs.

So, when talking to your son or daughter about their choices with regard to alcohol, you may want to discuss the differences between low-risk and high-risk drinking and abstaining.

Low risk drinking is:
  • Thinking about whether you will drink, what you will drink before the party
  • Being 21 or older
  • Eating a meal before drinking
  • Abstaining is the safest choice
  • Drinking no more that one drink per hour; maximum 1 for women, 2 for men
  • Always knowing what you are drinking
  • Alternating alcohol-free drinks throughout the evening
  • Knowing how you will get home safely before you go out
High risk drinking is:
  • Chugging, drinking games, shots (drinking anything out of a punch bowl, trough, hose, or funnel)
  • Drinking to get drunk (intoxicated)
  • Driving after drinking or riding with someone under the influence
  • Drinking too much too fast
  • Going to parties where people drink too much
  • Not knowing what is in your glass or leaving it unattended
  • Alternating alcohol-free drinks throughout the evening
  • Mixing alcohol with medications or illegal drugs

Contributors:

  • Maureen Conway University of California – San Francisco
  • Kim Dude University of Missouri-Columbia
  • Ellen Gold Eastern Michigan University
  • Annann Hong Northwestern University
  • Jeff Linkenbach, Ed.D. Montana State University
  • Nancy Schulte George Mason University
  • Janice Wilbur, Ph.D. University of Connecticut

The following organizations join us in support of this message:

  • American Council on Education
  • American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers
  • Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
  • The BACCHUS and GAMMA Peer Education Network
  • This information is brought to you by The Century Council
     
    The Century Council
Resources for Parents
65 Percent Campaign
65 Percent of underage youth who drink get alcohol from family and friends. The Century Council is providing tips to parents in an effort to prevent underage drinking and to highlight the strong influence that parents wield in their teens' decisions to say no to alcohol. Materials available in both English and Spanish.  more
Brandon Tells His Story
Brandon Tells His Story in this award-winning video. Shortly before his high school prom, 17 year-old Brandon Silveria had a near-fatal crash after drinking a few beers at a high school party. After enduring a coma for nearly three months, he remains permanently disabled. Brandon delivers a compelling message to teens about the dangers of drinking and driving.  more
Visit the Alcohol 101 Plus website
Alcohol 101 Plus is an award-winning interactive CD-ROM that aims to help college students make safe and responsible decisions about alcohol. Set on a "virtual campus," this innovative new program presents realistic scenarios that address the problems of specific at-risk populations in college settings: First-year students, Greeks, Athletes, and Judicial policy offenders.  visit website
Visit the Alcohol 101 for High School Seniors website
Alcohol 101® for High School Seniors is an interactive CD-ROM program with a companion Educator's Guide designed to aid Educators in preparing students to make informed choices about alcohol. By demonstrating the negative outcomes of bad decisions and by providing safe and healthy alternatives, the program encourages students to maintain safety and control in situations involving alcohol.  visit website
Visit the Alcohol 101 for High School Seniors website
The Blood Alcohol Educator is an educational credit-card-sized CD-ROM program for adults that is available in English and Spanish. The Blood Alcohol Educator (BAE) educates the user on how their personal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level rises based on their gender, weight and number and type of drink.  visit website
Visit the Prom Night Tips website
Prom Night Tips for Parents provides safety tips for parents of prom-goers. Visit the website to read and print out the twelve safety tips. You can also send an animated e-card to friends and family to help spread this important message.  visit website
More Resources for parents
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