Contact Information

drinkingrss

Holiday Drinking: Expert Offers Game Plan for Safety

expert photo
EXPERT CONTACT :

Jennifer Read

Associate Professor of Psychology

University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences

jpread@buffalo.edu

Read, an expert on teen drinking, has a simple but effective message for anyone making decisions about alcohol, holiday parties and ways to be safe: Just use your head, she says. Develop a plan before your evening starts, and stick to it.

Read has studied factors that contribute to drinking among teenage and college-aged students. She speaks to groups about responsible drinking, and has also counseled parents about how to talk to their children about drinking, driving and holiday partying.
 
Q: What are some things that people can do to prevent themselves and others from drinking and driving during the holidays?
 
A: One is to decide ahead of time how much you want to drink. Set a limit and then keep that limit in mind as you go about the evening. Also, plan ahead regarding driving. Who will be the designated driver that evening? This is something that people should decide on ahead.
 
Q: Why do people tend to drink too much during the holidays?
 
A: The thing is that when we're out with other people, we aren't always paying attention to how much we drink. We're paying attention to the conversation, the people, the decorations, lots of other things. Because we're distracted by all that's going on, we tend not to notice how intoxicated we might be feeling.
 
As alcohol impairs judgment, the more we drink, the less able we are to determine that we've had enough. Also, in social settings, other people often get drinks for us or give us drinks with alcohol. These offers of alcohol tend to make people drink more.
 
Q: Is there anything in particular that parents can do to help teenagers and young adults from putting themselves in harm's way?
 
A: One thing is to pass on what they know about smart drinking. The other thing that parents can do is to ask questions about who will be driving that evening. This is true even for parents of older adolescents like teenagers or even college students.
 
Just asking important questions like "Who is going to be driving you to the party tonight?" or "Have you decided on a designated  driver?" can help to remind them that they need to make responsible decisions around alcohol even as they're enjoying the holiday season.
Related Topics:

alcohol, drinking

Safe driving for young adults during the year's biggest party weekend

expert photo
EXPERT CONTACT :

Gregory A. Fabiano

Assistant Professor of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology

University at Buffalo

716-645-1130

fabiano@buffalo.edu

Greg Fabiano has earned national recognition for his work fostering good driving habits among hyperactive students and their parents using UB's sophisticated and realistic driving simulator. Besides improving their driving, his students have built better family relationships after participating in his research.

Fabiano can offer safety tips for teenagers and young adults, a topic of particular importance in the holiday season. It is especially timely on Nov. 25, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving traditionally known as one of the most active party nights of the year, particularly for college students returning home for the weekend.

Fabiano, who has two children, was recently chosen to receive a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the nation's highest honor for professionals at the early stages of their independent scientific research careers.

Related Topics:

drinking, driving, fatalities, teenagers, Thanksgiving

Login