9 Tips to Staying Safe When Adolescents Drinking is at Play
It’s a natural reality of teenage life: drinking happens at parties. Although you’re underage, and you’ve heard the lectures about drinking alcohol as a teenager, you know you won’t survive your teen years without showing up to at least one party. As a Christian how do you manage the party scene without needing to have a drink in hand? Here’s nine simple tips:
- You can have fun without drinking. People who believe the myth that you can’t have fun without drinking are typically trying to hide or escape from their reality. If you ever get to this point, then pray that God can bring you healing.
- Create your own nonalcoholic mocktail. Discover different flavors by mixing juices, teas and sodas together. If the host won’t supply these items, then bring your own. It may sound lame to show up to a party with Ginger Ale and Grenadine (the mixings for a Shirley Temple) but, you’ll actually have a lot of people ask what you’re drinking and if they can have one two.
- Be a leader and encourage other’s not to drink. Respect people who choose not to drink and they will respect you in return.
- Be the designated driver. It’s a great excuse for staying sober. Don’t ever drink and drive, which means don’t let your friends do it either. And, don’t get in a car with someone who’s been drinking or using drugs.
- If you don’t know what’s in a drink, don’t drink it. Someone could spike or drug your drink. Be smart and grab your own or get one from a trusted friend. Don’t mess around with what you consume.
- Keep an eye out for your friends – whether they’re drinking or not. The party scene can become crazy rather quickly, so be on the lookout for one another to help keep each other safe and in the know.
- If you choose to drink, know your limits and stick to them. Don’t let ANYONE pressure you to drink more. It’s not rude to be assertive and decline. This is true with anything in life, even when you’re an adult.
- It takes your body about an hour to process one drink, so if you are drinking, pace yourself.
- Avoid drinking games. Even if you aren’t drinking an alcoholic beverage. You don’t need to encourage gluttony.
Party Teenager
Whether you’re a novice or a pro, it’s important to stay safe at a party. They’re meant to be fun and a place where you can learn more about yourself, your friends and the people around you. It’s amazing what can happen at a party. You’ll be shocked at what’s revealed at least once. But know that the most important thing you can do at a party is be a good friend and a great listener. It’s not a place to evangelize to others about God, but it is a place to hear what’s going on in someone else’s life so you can encourage and lift them up in their time of need. Hearing someone’s drunken story won’t create any special bond between you two, but it will give you an opportunity to show kindness and compassion to a hurting or invigorated soul.
