Happening tonight: Teen-drinking survey; water-pollution review

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Two one-time-only events to remind you about before the day is gone:

FAMILY SURVEY RESULTS: Back in November, we brought you the link to a community survey spearheaded by Renae Gaines , who’s based at Madison Middle School but has been working tirelessly community-wide to make sure that West Seattleites are aware of the true impact of underage drinking, and how to fight the problem. The survey results are out now, and will be discussed in detail at tonight’s meeting of the Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership, 6 pm at West Seattle High School. (Here’s a Power Point presentation of the results, if you want a preview.)

SEWAGE PLANT MEETING: Don’t let the title fool you: This is technically about the West Point Sewage Treatment Plant, which is in Magnolia, but it turns out the focus is also on the “combined sewer overflows” that result from pump stations all over West Seattle and elsewhere – so the meeting will feature information about potential pollution in our waters, both the open Sound and the Duwamish River. 6 pm tonight, South Seattle Community College‘s Georgetown campus, Building C (6727 Corson Ave. S.; map). Thanks to Liesbet for the tip; she points out there’s more info at duwamishcleanup.org.

Caduceus January 27, 2009 (4:27 pm)

Problematic under-age drinking occurs when parents do not educate their children about alcohol, it’s effects and how adults actually go about drinking it.

The under-age kids then go about acquiring alcohol from friends who’s parents are alcoholics, or from older brothers, or older friends and drinking too much. Getting sick or blacking out or getting into trouble. But they find it fun because they’re being sneaky and getting away with things they aren’t suppose to be doing, things they get in trouble for.

Parents simply just need to have a casual attitude about it, need to educate their children not to drink straight liquor, and to mix their drinks and drink modestly if they’re going to drink at all. Because as nice of an idea as it is to think kids will do whatever their parents say, that isn’t what happens at all. So if your kids are going to drink, at least teach them to drink safely.

austin January 27, 2009 (5:00 pm)

I for one was surprised at the reported ease of underage alcohol acquisition. When I was doing the teenage hooligan thing 10-15 years ago alcohol was a rare distraction compared to the cheap low grade cannabis infesting the southern states due to the total lack of government regulation on scheduled substances.

beachdrivegirl January 28, 2009 (9:33 am)

Caduceus, surprisingly i agree with your viewpoint here. :) I think parents do need to educate their kids on not “not drinking” but more alogn the lines of if you are going to do it “drink responsible”. I also believe that not making a huge deal about alcohol in the home to begin with leads to teenagers less likely to go out of their way to get drunk. I think not only teaching kids to drink safely is important but also not getting pissed if your kid is @ a party. Make them feel comfortable telling you where they are despite if a parent is their or not etc b/c despite what you believe they are going to go to that party regardless as to what you say so imo i would rather know they are there.

Wes January 28, 2009 (6:06 pm)

I agree that parents need to educate their kids about drinking but as a parent I believe that it’s ok to tell them it is not ok to drink until they are 21. I think it is ok to tell them what it can potentially lead to. If we are talking about underage drinking here then I think it is absolutely ok to tell your CHILD that they will have to wait and then be responsible. It’s illegal for them drink under the age of 21, they are not adults, in fact most teens are told or do not think they have to be responsible until they want to. There are lots of ‘kidults” out there and I think none of them are responsible enough. My opinion and I think it’s totally realistic. Besides if your CHILD wants to drink, ask your self or them why? and see if it makes sense.

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