Limit access,
prevention starts with you!
#BeeResponsible
Tips:
Give color-coded or different style cups to adults and underage guests.
Make a punch without alcohol so underage guests feel like they’re drinking something special without missing out on the fun
Be responsible when it comes to driving and always have a safety plan.
Facts:
Remember, MOST New Britain youth do NOT use alcohol!
In the past month, more than 95% of New Britain high school students chose NOT to use alcohol! More than 80% have NEVER used alcohol!
There is no safe amount of alcohol for teens! Most New Britain teens know that alcohol is risky – almost 80% say that youth risk harming themselves by using alcohol.
Be clear with your kids about your rules and expectations and be consistent! Just 63% of New Britain youth in grades 6-12 say that they have clear family rules about alcohol use – let’s get those conversations going!!
Among New Britain youth who have used alcohol, HOME is the #1 place they get alcohol and the #1 place they drink alcohol!
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), there is a noticeable increase in alcohol consumption during holidays, such as Christmas and New Year's. The time between Christmas and New Year’s is one of the most dangerous for fatal accidents due to drunk drivers, and New Year’s Day sees more teenagers treated in emergency rooms for alcohol related illness
than any other day!
Some tips for adults to prevent underage drinking during the holidays (and all year round!):
- Do not allow young people to consume alcohol even when you are supervising them;
- Do not provide alcohol to young people, consider Social host Law
- Set clear rules about alcohol consumption: talk early and often about your expectations.
- Color Code Non-alcoholic cups (for youth) and alcohol cups (for legal adults)
3,399 New Britain 6th–12th graders took a survey about substance use and prevention.
Here are the facts.
FACT
New Britain students who use alcohol and other drugs most often get them from home.
Where substances are acquired most often among lifetime users
from home
from home
from home
Vapes
from home
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In English
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Learn more about what YOU can do below.
What can I do?
Keep substances locked up.
- Store alcohol, marijuana, vapes, and prescription drugs in a securely locked cabinet, room, safe, or box.
- Keep the key somewhere hidden or inaccessible.
- Avoid use when children may be present.
What is the law?
Parents have a legal responsibility to stop anyone under the age of 21 to possess alcohol on their property. Many adults don't know that you can be criminally and civilly responsible for any crime or injury that happens when alcohol is consumed by anyone under the age of 21. Under the CT Social Host law, parents can be held liable for episodes of underage drinking that occur in their house. A social host is someone of legal drinking age who may either provide alcohol to a minor or at least be aware of a minor’s possession of alcohol.
Connecticut’s “social host” law also expands to include cannabis, which means that parents or other adults may commit a crime if they allow minors to use or possess cannabis on their property. Furthermore, adults 21 and over must keep marijuana (limit of up to 5 oz.) in a locked container if storing it in the home, or in the trunk or locked glovebox of a vehicle. For adults growing marijuana, plants must be grown indoors and must not be visible from the street. People who choose to grow their own plants must do so in their primary residence and where individuals under 21 can not access the plants.
Did you know?
Prevention starts when you start talking—and listening.
What can I do?
- Discuss proper storage of substances with kids and adults
- Emphasize "Take medications only prescribed to you"
- Discourage misuse of pain medication
- Encourage proper and safe disposal of medications
- Talk about the risks of substance abuse, especially as an athlete - slows down thinking and reaction time, also decreases performance.
What can I do?
- Do not eat anything in unmarked packaging
- Say no to peer pressure and level up your refusal skills (examples below)
"I don't want to let my family down"
"Sports are too important for me to do that"
"I have my whole life ahead of me"
"I've got stuff do, can't be on that"
"I dont want to risk my health"
"I don't want to get addicted to anything"
"I don't want to end up like the addicts I've seen"
"Addiction runs in my family, I have to stay away"
"Overdoses are common and I'm not trying to be next"
"I don't want to look messed up"
"I don't know what is in it"
"I can get a random drug test at any time" - Make adults aware of unsafely stored medications
- Learn how to safely dispose and store medications
- Find a trusted adult if:
- You know someone is taking substances out of the home
- You are being pressured to take substances
- Someone wants you to take substances for them
Community partners are here to help!
