Family Life

04.07.11 | Sarah Harnisch

 There's a troubling new report on teen attitudes toward drinking.  A study concludes that many young people don't have a problem with heavy drinking.  Steve Pasierb of Partnership for a Drug Free America says "this generation really doesn't see much harm in drinking... drinking to get drunk, drinking socially, drinking to escape the stresses in their life." He gave some advice to parents on how to keep their kids alcohol-free. He said "when your kid makes the transition from elementary to middle school, you have to keep the rhythm going. You have to keep the conversation going all through the middle school and high school years, on the dangers of alcohol and drugs." The study puts the average age for a teenagers' first drink at 14.  Nearly half the nation's teens don't have a problem with heavy drinking. Heavy drinking was described as 5 or more drinks a day.