April is Alcohol Responsibility Month
April is Alcohol Responsibility Month, and this year, we are celebrating 20 years of Ask, Listen, Learn. Over the last two decades parents, educators, organizations, and communities have worked together to empower kids to say “YES” to a healthy lifestyle and “NO” to underage drinking. And these efforts have worked! We recently released survey data to show the progress that has been made to keep kids alcohol-free.
Highlights include:
- Since 2003, conversations among parents and kids have increased 31%. 📈
93 percent of parents have talked to their kids at least once in the past year about alcohol consumption. - During this same time, the rate of past month consumption among underage youth has decreased 53%. 📉
- And not only are parents doing a great job, but so are kids! In fact, 90 percent of kids have talked with their parents or another caregiver about the dangers of drinking alcohol.
- Our new research also shows that although we sometimes forget it—or deny that it’s true—kids really are listening and watching. 33% of children identify their parents as the leading influence on their decision to drink or not drink alcohol, followed by best friends (25%), and social media (17%).
Together, we hope to keep these numbers moving in the right direction. We know that it takes a village to help kids thrive, which is why we share tools and resources to start these conversations in school and at home.
Here’s what’s coming up!
#Take20withKids
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ask, Listen, Learn, we are asking families and educators to “Take20withKids.” Take 20 seconds, 20 minutes, or 20 breaths to connect and discuss the risks associated with underage drinking, to model responsible behavior, or to take action on a goal.
Every Wednesday in April — and periodically throughout the year—we invite you to share your #Take20withKids ideas, practices, and wins on social media to encourage others to inspire kids to make healthy decisions, set achievable goals, and stay alcohol- and substance-free.
Make sure you follow us on social media so you can share your story with us, show your commitment to keeping kids alcohol-free, and get inspired by what others are doing, too. Click this link for more information.
Webinar | April 26 | 12PM EDT | 20 Years of Underage Drinking Prevention
Join us on April 26 at noon Eastern as we reflect on 20 years of underage drinking prevention education in action with Ask, Listen, Learn. We will share the progress that has been made together over the last two decades to keep kids alcohol-free, discuss our new survey data, and highlight ways for parents to start conversations with their kids. Our panelists will speak to the effectiveness of talking to kids as a form of harm reduction and the importance of modeling responsible behaviors to help kids live healthy lifestyles.
· Speakers include:
- Julie Foudy, Soccer legend, author, and ESPN commentator
- Steve Mesler, Team USA gold medalist, CEO and co-founder of Classroom Champions, USOC Board member
- Dr. Leigh Parise, Responsibility.org Education Advisory Board member and co-founder of Classroom Champions
Brain, Body, Behavior Activities-New to You!
We recently added activities and lesson plans to our website, developed in partnership with Discovery Education, including a self-paced module that takes kids on a journey through the developing brain to show kids how underage drinking affects their minds, bodies, and behaviors. There is also information about cannabis including conversation starters and information on the health effects of underage cannabis use.
Athlete Mentors
Throughout April, meet Olympic and Paralympic athletes and listen to their stories and lessons about healthy living and the importance of goal setting, healthy choices, and prevention education. Created in partnership with Classroom Champions, these athletes are full of good advice about making good decisions, overcoming obstacles, and sharing refusal strategies. Find out their keys to living a healthy lifestyle in quick, fun “Mindful Minute” videos on our social channels.
Easy EdTech Podcast
Education Advisory Board member and former middle school computer science teacher, Leticia Barr, recently spoke to Dr. Monica Burns, an EdTech consultant and expert on classroom technology, about how the engaging aspects of education technology make lessons more meaningful for kids, including the use of Ask, Listen, Learn’s resources. Check it out here!
Attorneys General Discuss Underage Drinking Prevention
For more than a decade, we have worked with Attorneys General from across the United States to share Ask, Listen, Learn resources. This year, we partnered with 17 Attorneys General, many who are parents themselves, to continue this tradition of excellence. We appreciate their time, effort, and commitment to talking about the importance of starting conversations with kids about alcohol to prevent underage drinking using Ask, Listen, Learn resources. Keep your eyes out for them, or view the complete playlist of all the videos here.
Did the Attorney General from your state participate? If so, make sure to like, share, and maybe even write them a thank you note as a family or classroom for their support and efforts in keeping kids substance-free!
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We hope that you have a great month full of meaningful conversations empowering kids to say “YES” to a healthy lifestyle and “NO” to underage drinking. And remember to check out our additional resources dedicated to educating kids about the importance of saying “NO” to underage cannabis use as well.
Thank you for all that you do to keep kids healthy and safe. We are excited about the conversations you will start this month and beyond in the classroom and at home!
-The Ask, Listen, Learn team