Advocates encourage parents to talk to kids about underage drinking risks
Mar 12, 2025, 1:00 PM
FILE - Signs discouraging underage drinking are pictured at the drop-off and pickup zones at Willow Creek Middle School in Lehi on Thursday, March 29, 2018. (Laura Seitz/Deseret News)
(Laura Seitz/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Advocacy groups are asking parents to talk to their kids about underage drinking ahead of spring break.
The most recent state SHARP survey found 3.4% of students reported they’ve had alcohol in the last 30 days.
Salt Lake County’s Substance Use Prevention Coordinator Alysa Stuart said Utah has one of the lowest underage drinking rates in the country, but it’s not that simple.
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“Utah rates are always low compared to national rates and it’s because we have a lot of policies in place that protect our youth (from) drinking and underage drinking. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t have an issue.”
Underage drinking can increase risk for addiction
Utah State Board of Education Prevention Specialist Clarissa Stebbing said underage drinking, even if it isn’t a widespread issue, is still cause for concern.
“For the small percentage of kids who are drinking underage, that is concerning. Because it does impact their developing brain and can lead to addiction.”
Stebbing said parents can help reduce the risk of their kids drinking alcohol by spending quality time with them and explaining the risk of alcohol use.
Even younger kids need the discussion.
“The general recommendation that is out there is to start talking to your child as young as 9 about the dangers of underage drinking and to express their strong disapproval regarding underage drinking for their child,” Stebbing said.
According to Stebbing, kids are much less likely to start using alcohol when they have parents who actively show they disapprove of underage drinking.
Preventing kids from drinking can have a big impact.
Stuart said kids who start drinking before they’re 14 years old are six times more likely to develop an alcohol dependency disorder by adulthood.
“Which is a huge prevention message, right? So if we want to prevent our adults from having not just alcohol use disorder, but alcohol addictions or alcohol dependence, then we really need to look at the first age of use.”
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