Ralph Cantor, coordinator of drug, alcohol, and violence prevention for the Alameda County Office of Education, commented about alcohol use in American society: "It's integrated into the culture, and so it's totally accepted by the parent/adult community, and so the kids just pick it up."
Ellen Peterson, who worked as a peer counselor at a local high school until 1995 and now heads an alcohol task force for Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda, believes that some parents condone underage drinking and even host parties for youth where alcohol is consumed and drink with their kids. I think a lot of parents think it's part of being friends with their kids, and they're worried that their kids won't like them if they're not sort of peers."
Local parent, Roni Melmed, also observed this behavior when her kids were growing up. "(Parents) think it's a rite of passage. ... That it's going to happen, we can't be naive to it, and as long as they don't drink and drive, they're kind of OK with that."
(Source: 254)
Labels: teen drinking, ca
Posted By: Aspen Education Group