Tag Archives: drinking

Plugged In Parent?

Are you a plugged in parent?  I’m talking about the kind of parent who is involved in your teenager’s life…in such a way that you would recognize signs of bad behavior.  Things like drinking, drugs, oh, even prostitution. Can you imagine not knowing that your teenager was not only sexually active but had been with married men?  Had prostituted herself out in order to get ecstasy? That was the situation in a recent Dr. Phil show I watched.  I would have to say this was probably the most clueless mother I have ever seen. The specifics of the show don’t … Continue reading →

Creation of an Alcoholic Soda?

Just when you think you have heard it all…I only learned this week about a new product that has apparently been available for a few months. It is a fruity concoction geared toward a younger crowd and it is made by Pabst Brewing Company, located right here in my hometown of Milwaukee. It’s called “Blast” and contains 12 percent alcohol. Not enough to get you drunk (well at least not by drinking just one) but enough to give some “kick.” Pabst describes it as a “premium malt beverage with natural fruit flavors” such as grape, raspberry watermelon, strawberry lemonade and … Continue reading →

4th of July Weekend Sees Increase in Underage Drinking

As a parent of teens, what I am thinking most about with the upcoming 4th of July is what we are going to grill, who is going to come over and if we will get good seats for the fireworks. My teens are probably thinking about the food (most especially the dessert) and how much fun they are going to have hanging out with their friends. Great times together with family and friends, creating additional experiences to be stored in the memory banks of my children. But this carefree innocence isn’t felt by all. I ran across an article where … Continue reading →

Talk to Your Teen About Drinking

Although my almost 16 year old son has no interest in attending dances or the upcoming prom, I have other friends whose teenagers are getting ready for these celebrations. They are busy picking out dresses, talking about who they are going with and what they will do. If I were to guess I would bet that most of my friends will be sending their teens off without taking time to talk about drinking. I don’t say that because they don’t care but I think too often there is an assumption that teens should know better. There may be the false … Continue reading →

Talking to Your Kids about Alcohol Abuse

When I was getting ready to go away to college, my parents sat me down and said something to the effect of “you’re probably going to drink when you’re at college, just do it responsibly.” They didn’t know that I’d already been faced with offers of alcohol and turned them down without hesitation. But then, I wouldn’t consider myself a typical teen with a typical curiosity about drinking. I had already seen up close what serious drinking could do to a person, and was not at all interested in alcohol. I never had more than a sip to taste until … Continue reading →

Pick the Healthiest Water

I’m a fan of flavored water. What can I say? I like drinks with flavor. Plain old water is okay once in a while, but I’m far more likely to get my eight glasses a day if they actually taste like something. But not all flavored waters are created equal. Here are some tips to help you pick the best water — and stay away from the stuff that isn’t as good for you. Watch the sweeteners. Check the label for sugars, whether natural or artificial. Sweeteners play a big role in calorie count — and how many calories do … Continue reading →

Has Your Ten Year Old Tasted Alcohol?

A study from the University of Pittsburgh found that two out of five American children between the ages of eight and ten — that’s forty percent — have tasted alcohol. That means just a few sips… nothing dangerous, right? What might be more worrisome is that of the children who had tasted alcohol, one third of parents had no idea that it had happened. Before the University of Pittsburgh study, research on alcohol use in children focused on older children and larger quantities of alcohol. Most of the prior research only asked about a child taking “more than a few … Continue reading →

Underage Drinking Parties

Would you allow your teenage child to host a drinking party? One couple did and now they are facing charges. Over the summer they allowed their eighteen-year-old daughter to have a party with about thirty of her peers to celebrate graduation. The parents were home but claimed that they didn’t know the teens were drinking. My question to them, “How could you not know?” The police came to the party after a party guest crashed his car on his way home. Police found alcohol and marijuana in the teenager’s car and when they found out the source was the party … Continue reading →

Spring Break in Cancun – What Are Your Teens Really Doing?

Recently my husband and I returned from a vacation to the Cancun Mexico area. We stayed at a resort on the Riviera Maya and since we didn’t frequent the bars were not exposed to the multitude of college and high-school students visiting during spring break. That is until we were on our way home. At the airport we heard four teenage girls talking about their spring break vacation. We overheard the following conversation, “You promise you won’t say anything?” Her friend responded, “Of course, after all what happens in Cancun, stays in Cancun.” Later another girl said, “I drank so … Continue reading →