Alcoholism Resources

Alcohol advertising, when aimed at young males, uses sex and the strong urge for sexual identity through fulfillment, to influence the buying habits of the individual.

OVERVIEW

(Download Alcohol Advertising overview as a PDF)

LEADER PREPARATION

• Videotape several beer commercials for discussion.
• Before the meeting, know your specific aim so you maintain perspective and impact.
• Encourage participants bring to the meeting their perspective on two beer commercials with which they are most familiar.
• Bring with you the list of questions outlined in the Alcohol in Advertising Article Review (Riordan, T. [1989, March 27]. Miller Guy Life: The Lites of Spring. The New Republic, pp. 16-17.)
• Be a facilitator, not a lecturer.

GROUP BUILDING

• Ask someone in the group to hum or sing familiar tunes from current or past commercials. Have several ideas ready to get them started.
• Divide the group into smaller groups of 4-5 and give each group ten minutes to create an original commercial about a product you assign to them.

GROUP PRESENTATION

• Ask the entire group to name which commercials they like the most (and why). Which ones do they like the least (and why)?
• Ask the group what, in their opinion, makes a successful commercial.
• Explain to the group that they will observe some videotaped beer commercials. Tell them to watch carefully and look at the content and message.
• Watch the videotape. Discuss observations.
• Control the conversation so as to stay on course with the intended focus.
• Pick the best time to use questions from the previously mentioned article review.
• Encourage precise, concise and personal answers.

WRAP-UP

• With meaningful explanation, encourage selective screening of commercials.
• Smile and go home.

IMPLICATIONS

It is imperative that through discussion and horizontal dialogue, we allow youth to discover the significance of selective and informal screening. Ask them the significance of being "on guard"and watching or reading commercials or advertisements.

ALCOHOLISM

OVERVIEW

(Download Alcoholism overview as a PDF)

The United States Commerce Department reports that the average American drinks 22.4 gallons of beer, 1.85 gallons of wine, and 2 gallons of hard liquor each year. A total of $12.4 billion is spent on alcoholic beverages annually. The following statistics highlight some of the problems of alcohol abuse:

• Twenty-five percent of all American teenagers who drink alcoholic beverages have serious alcohol problems.
• An alcoholic high once a week can produce an alcoholic in one or two years.
• Seventy percent of teenage highway accidents are alcohol-related.
• Eighty-five percent of teenage suicides are identified with alcohol abuse.
• Seventy percent of parents never converse with their children about alcohol abuse.
• Alcohol abuse costs the United States an estimated $45 billion annually.
• Alcoholism is the third greatest health problem and cause of death in the United States, exceeded only by heart disease and cancer.
• There are an estimated eleven million alcoholics in this country. One out of ten drinkers is an alcoholic and one out of five heavy drinkers is an alcoholic.
• Twelve percent of all family problems involve alcoholism.

A 1974 study found that

• One-third of all teenagers get drunk once a month.
• Five percent of all teenagers get drunk once a week.
• One and one half million teenagers have a serious drinking problem.
• Sixty percent of all traffic fatalities are due to teenage drunkenness.
• Fifty percent of all traffic fatalities are due to drunken driving.
• Thirty percent of teens do not drink.
• Fifty percent of teens drink only occasionally.

A 1978 study found that

• There are 3,300,000 thirteen to seventeen year-olds who have serious alcohol problems.
• One-third of drinking teens drink more than they should.
• Alcohol is a factor in one-third of all suicides and half of all violent crimes, teenage traffic fatalities, and fatal house fires.

Therapists find that adult children of problem drinkers or alcoholics may suffer from the strain of supporting a family that appeared to be in good shape but was not. Maintenance of such a family system without expressing feelings that might upset other family members can produce great inner discomfort in an outwardly successful adult life. Hidden resentment and defensiveness can mar relationships and rob one of inner peace.

Project 714 of Chattanooga suggest these as signs of alcoholism:

I. Growing Preoccupation.

A. Anticipation of Drinking.

1. During daytime activities.

2. Vacation times (fishing trips, beach parties, sporting events can become drinking binges).

3. Growing involvement in drinking activities.

B. Growing Need During Times of Stress.

1. On the job.

2. Family, marriage, or relationship problems.

3. Emergencies.

II. Growing Rigidity of Lifestyle.

A. Particular times for drinking during the day established.

B. Self-imposed limits beginning to change.

C. Will not tolerate interference during drinking times.

D. Limits "social" activities to those which involve drinks.

III. Growing Tolerance.

A. "Wooden Leg" syndrome—ability to hold liquor without showing it.

B. Ingenuity in obtaining alcohol without others knowing.

C. Tendency to:

1. Gulp drinks and sneak drinks.

2. Order "stiffer" drinks.

3. Be self-appointed bartender at parties.

4. Purchase liquor in greater quantities.

5. Hide and protect supply and empties.

IV. Loss of Control.

A. Unplanned drinking.

B. Binge drinking—even alone.

C. Morning drinking.

D. Repeated harmful effects from alcohol.

E. Increasing blackouts.

IMPLICATIONS

1. With kids hurried through childhood in a highly competitive society which advocates and models alcohol and drug use, it is not surprising that alcohol is a prime problem, and killer among youth.
2. Parents, teachers, counselors, and youth leaders need to work together in supporting the kind of growth that reduces alcohol abuse.
3. Those working with youth need to know the warning signs and specific trends of alcoholism. As youth leaders are more aware, they can help alcoholics accept their state and seek counseling.
4. Young people themselves, as they take part in positive and supportive peer groups, can be a vital source of instruction and confrontation with one another, and a source of information for concerned adults.

Barnesky, J. (1998, May). Drunk Driving. (Publication unlisted). pp. 1-2.

The Center for Youth Studies is pleased to have the following article review offered by a high school student. We believe that insight from young people themselves is important for today’s youth workers.

According to Barnesky, "Drunk driving is the number one cause of death among young people, accounting for 20% of all deaths from ages 15 to 20." Additionally, teenagers who are less active are more likely to drink and drive.

Fortunately, the public must be getting the message about drinking and driving, because since 1982, the number of alcohol-related traffic deaths has decreased 30%. For the last 14 years, alcohol-related traffic deaths have been decreasing steadily.

Some effective measures currently used to combat drinking and driving include license suspension, lowering the blood alcohol level, and public service announcements. Although many people are still killed or injured from drinking and driving, the good news is that the number of deaths has drastically decreased due to the strong public awareness and stiffer penalties.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1. Why would someone drink and drive?
2. Would you ever drink and drive? Do you know anyone who has?
3. Does the government need to do more to make people aware about drinking and driving?
4. Do you know where you can get help if you do drink and drive?

IMPLICATIONS

1. Knowing the facts about drinking and driving is very important. It is important because if you are aware of the fact that when you do this you could kill innocent people and also yourself.
2. Teachers could teach their students more about drinking and driving. One program that comes to mind is the DARE program. This program teaches kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol but also drunk driving.

Friend, T. (1997, February 4). Moderate Drinkers May be Doing Their Legs a Favor. USA Today, p. 1D.

This article announces a finding from the journal, Circulation, of this same date which found possible reduction of clogged arteries, not only in the heart, but in the peripheral vessels as well. This problem occurs mostly in older smokers.

The article also highlighted earlier studies of moderate adult drinking of alcohol.

Moderate is considered 2 drinks a day for males and 1 drink a day for females.

A drink is considered a 12-ounce beer or a 4-ounce glass of wine.

Possible positive effects:

• Reduction of heart attacks and vascular disease.
• Increase of good HDL cholesterol and prevention of blood clots.
• Decrease in insulin production (high insulin related to risk of heart disease).

Possible negative effects:

• Rise in blood pressure.
• Impairment of immune system.
• Liver damage.
• Risk of breast and other cancers.
• Impaired brain function.
• Increase risk of accidents and violence.