Marathon County AOD Encourages Adults to Have "Small Talks" with Children About Drinking

Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023 -- 10:16 AM

The Marathon County AOD Partnership is partnering with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services on Small Talks, a campaign to prevent underage drinking in Wisconsin.

This effort encourages adults to have short, casual conversations with kids starting at age 8 on the dangers of drinking alcohol before the age of 21. “Research shows that parents, loved ones, and other caring adults are the most powerful influence on a child’s choices about underage drinking."

All you have to do is talk. You can have a small talk anytime, anywhere. Help a child sort out what they hear from friends or see on TV before someone hands them a drink."

"Parents who allow their kids to drink with them thinking that they'd rather have them do it with them to keep them safe, sends a mixed message that they don't mind if their kids drink so they also do it without their parents around,” shares Dr. Shannon Young, Chair of the AOD Partnership and Principal of the Enrich, Excel, Achieve Learning Academy within the Wausau School District.

According to the 2021 Marathon County Youth Risk Behavior Survey 44% of teens reported trying alcohol and 30% of high school students reported trying alcohol by age 13.

When youth drink alcohol, they can damage and even block the development of healthy mental pathways in the brain that shape how kids feel, learn, behave, and grow. Damage like this can have lifelong physical, social, and emotional consequences.

The Marathon County AOD Partnership will be presenting a webinar (flyer attached at end) on Thursday, April 20th from 10:00-11:00AM on strategies to prevent underage drinking in Marathon County that is free and open to the public.

Registration information can be found here: https://ntc.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qfumtrzovG9wJkb9-Blz_QEV6gl4P_vjS.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.