FOCUS shares alcohol alternatives

By CHRIS BROWN / Journal Staff Writer

CHARLES TOWN — One area alcohol abuse prevention group has some ideas and tips for parents to offer their kids an alternative to booze during New Year’s celebrations.

Christa Shifflett, executive director of the FOCUS Coalition, suggested several ideas that will keep teenagers safe as well as entertained this year.

“With 2007 fast approaching, it is a good time to think about the under-age partyers among us and how they can have a safe, alcohol-free New Year’s Eve,” Shifflett said.

Shifflett laid a great deal of the responsibility of preventing under-age alcohol consumption at the feet of parents. She quoted a recent survey that stated that the majority of teenage drinking takes place in the home (41.7 percent) or at friends’ houses (48.1 percent). Because of this, Shifflett said that parents can do a lot to curb under-age drinking.

She offered some tips to help parents keep their kids safe — and out of trouble — on New Year’s Eve:

• If your teen wants to go to a private party, call the parents and make sure they are going to be home and that no alcohol will be served.

• Lock up your alcohol.

• Tell your child never to get in the car with someone who has been drinking, and that you will come and pick them up.

• If your child does drink, tell them you will come and get them. “It would be better for your teen to be grounded than dead,” Shifflett said.

• Give your teen some fun alternatives to drinking. Some suggestions are board/video game marathons; building bonfires and making s’mores; or making non-alcoholic daiquiris, pina coladas or other “mocktails.”

— Staff writer Chris Brown can be reached at 725-6581, or at cbrown@journal-news.net

Section: News Posted: 12/30/2006