TEEN DRINKING STUDY SOBERING CALL TO PARENTS

A national report says one in three teen binges on alcohol at least once a
month. Many around here might be inclined to discount this report because
it features national numbers, but those who deal with teens say the problem
is here as well.

This epidemic of binge drinking by high school students should send a
sobering message to parents: The suburbs aren't safe from this disturbing
trend.

Other numbers in the study are equally alarming:

* 81 percent of high school students have tried alcohol, compared with 70
percent who have smoked cigarettes and 47 percent who have used marijuana.

* The gender gap for drinking is disappearing. Today, ninth-grade girls are
just as likely as boys to be drinkers.

* Most teens who experiment with alcohol continue using it. Among high
school seniors who had tried alcohol at a younger age, 91.3 percent were
still drinking in the 12th grade.

In truth, the suburbs never have been a safe haven from teens and alcohol.
Teens always have been tempted by alcohol's allure. It's found in most
homes and usually portrayed favorably in the media.

Binge drinking is the worry here. It is usually defined as four consecutive
drinks for a woman or five drinks for a man, usually over a short time
span. Teens often do this on the weekends when they rationalize it won't
interfere with school.

Binge drinking is bad for everyone, but it's a particular problem for teens
because their bodies can't absorb alcohol as fast as they ingest it. This
can lead to overdoses, which can be fatal.

Authorities must continue to crack down hard on those who sell alcohol to
minors and those who buy it for them. We think this is being done; sting
operations are conducted regularly to see if stores and establishments sell
liquor to those under age 21.

The tougher problem is controlling alcohol in the home where it is easily
accessible to teens, who can -- and obviously do -- use it.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse offers tips for parents:

* Set strict rules and enforce consequences on drinking.

* Know your children's friends and where they are.

* Send a clear message about alcohol use.

* Discuss the negative consequences of drinking.

The drinking age is set at age 21 for a reason. Teens and alcohol don't mix.