While St. Patrick’s Day and New Years Eve might usually come to mind when thinking of the holiday that involves the most drinking, there’s another that is creeping up to take the lead. According to research and consulting firm Technomic’s Donna Hood Crecca “Black Wednesday” (the Wednesday before Thanksgiving) has essentially morphed into the first drinking weekend of the holiday season for many Americans. This day has become especially high risk for young people and college students who may take advantage of the chaos of the holiday season to sneak a drink or two.
In 2016, according to the Oklahoma Needs Prevention Assessment given in schools, Cotton County seniors reported that 18.6% of them had driven after drinking while 20.9% said they had ridden with someone who had been drinking, both in the past 30 days. Alcohol use by those that are under 21 is a major public health problem. Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused substance by young people in the United States. According to the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), nationally 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes. Couple that with the fact that last year, in the days between November 1st and December 31st, 891 people were killed in drunk driving accidents, it’s obvious that there needs to be more done to protect those that are drinking.
Wichita Mountains Prevention Network is committed to preventing underage drinking in Cotton County through the Regional Prevention Coordinator grant, funded by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Below are a few of their suggestions for ensuring your guests (including teens) are having the safest holiday possible:
• Avoid making alcohol the main focus of social events.
• Be sure to offer plenty of non alcoholic choices
• Stop serving drinks at least 1 hour before the end of an event
• Recruit designated drivers ahead of time to make sure everyone has a safe ride home
• Don’t be afraid to stop a friend or loved one from getting behind the wheel
For those with under 21 guests:
• Don’t provide alcohol or a place to drink for underage minors
• Be sure to keep all alcohol out of reach or locked up
• Have a conversation with your teen about the dangers of drinking and driving
• Everyone have a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday!