Senior Years and Wellbeing 

As more of our senior students reach that magical age of 18, the risks associated with alcohol consumption take on a whole new dimension. As adults it always good to stop and reflect on the impact it can have on our bodies as well!  As a parent you have a major influence on your adolescent child’s drinking behaviour and you can help prevent them from drinking alcohol or from harmful use. Your influence on your adolescent’s attitudes and decisions about alcohol is

greatest before they start drinking.

Alcohol is a drug. It acts as a depressant (slows down the central nervous system) and has numerous other effects on the body. Adolescents have less physical tolerance to the effects of alcohol. Adolescence is a time when the brain is still rapidly developing and it is therefore more susceptible to damage due to drinking alcohol. There are a number of other harms associated with alcohol that are more likely to occur during adolescence

The following information is taken from “Parent Guidelines for Adolescent Alcohol Use.” www.parentingstrategies.net

Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol

Guideline 1: Reducing the risk of alcohol-related harm over a lifetime

For healthy men and women, drinking no more than two standard drinks on any day reduces the lifetime risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury.

Guideline 2: Reducing the risk of injury on a single occasion of drinking

For healthy men and women, drinking no more than four standard drinks on a single occasion reduces the risk of alcohol-related injury arising from that occasion.

Guideline 3: Children and young people under 18 years of age

A: Parents and carers should be advised that children under 15 years of age are at the greatest risk of harm from drinking and that for this age group, not drinking alcohol is especially important.

B: For young people aged 15-17 years, the safest option is to delay the initiation of drinking for as long as possible.

Guideline 4: Pregnancy and breastfeeding

A: For women who are pregnant, not drinking is the safest option.

B: For women who are breastfeeding, not drinking is the safest option.

What is a standard drink?

A standard drink contains 10 grams of alcohol, for example 100ml of wine, 30ml of spirits or 285ml of heavy beer.

Adapted from: National Health & Medical Research Council (2009). Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from drinking Alcohol.

Kristen Waldron