And a big part of the societal impact of alcohol is teens. They often feel peer pressure to consume alcohol and binge drink. But according to the Director of Health Services, they found that before minors can even be influenced, the encouragement to try a drink starts at home. at today's national alcohol forum she explained why this is a huge concern.
Melissa Diaz Musa, Director Public Health & Wellness, MOHW
"One of the alarming statistics that was mentioned today was that a large percentage of adolescents I think she mentioned over 60% had their first drink before the age of 10. So that is recent data so we know that the age is younger and younger and the psychologist also mentioned that parents may feel that it is best for my child to start drinking at home because at least I'll know how they behave etc, and she suggested that these things are not correct because then you ensure that your child feels safe with drinking and they need to understand it is not a safe space it is not some place you can sit down and say okay I am going to drink at home you take that out to the clubs and other places and then it becomes and addiction so we are cornered and apart of our campaign will be addressing children and adolescents and addressing the way we can reduce them feeling the urge or feeling that it is cool or it is necessary or that peer pressure that they must drink."
