Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Reminds Parents That Holidays Are a Good Time to Talk to Children About Alcohol

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) reminds parents that the holiday season is the perfect occasion to have proactive conversations with their children about alcohol and consider the accessibility of alcohol in their own homes.

"When parents host or attend a holiday party, or when a parent receives or gives alcohol as a gift, those are perfect opportunities to talk to their kids about alcohol, the risks of underage drinking and their expectations that the children don't drink alcohol, even on special occasions," said PLCB Chairman Tim Holden.

In developing its award-winning Know When. Know How.^SM statewide education and prevention campaign, the PLCB learned that 7 in 10 Pennsylvania parents don't keep the alcohol in their homes secured, and more than half think it would be very easy or somewhat easy for their underage children to access the alcohol without their knowledge.

"Parents, as your friends and family come to your house to celebrate the holiday season, be mindful of where you keep your alcohol. Do your kids know where to find it? Can your kids easily access your alcohol, and if they did, would you notice?" asked Board Member Mike Negra. "One of the most basic tips we can offer is, don't let minors have access to alcohol."

Research shows that 80 percent of kids say their parents are the biggest factor in whether or not they decide to drink, so it's important for parents to have conversations about alcohol with their kids before trial or use begins.

At www.KnowWhenKnowHow.org, parents can find information about alcohol presented in digestible bits and pieces so parents can become comfortable discussing the topic without being overwhelmed. The website provides scenarios and tips on how parents can spark conversations about alcohol with their kids, features facts and statistics about alcohol's effects on a growing body, and discusses the role of parental responsibility as it relates to underage drinking prevention.

"This holiday season, parents can have meaningful talks with their underage children about the reasons a parent can drink alcohol but a child cannot. Parents can also consider how accessible alcohol is in their homes and take steps to secure their alcohol – not just what's available at holiday parties and on special occasions, but also year-round," said Board Member Michael Newsome.

Know When. Know How. is based on PLCB-commissioned research, including a statewide survey of more than 500 Pennsylvania parents with children under 21, along with eight focus groups with parents of children between the ages of 5 and 15. Almost every parent – 94 percent – said they believe it is their responsibility to talk to their kids about alcohol. Know When. Know How. encourages parents to take advantage of brief, age-appropriate conversations that spring out of everyday experiences and grow with children as they mature.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board works to educate the public about the dangers of underage and dangerous drinking through a variety of avenues, including a poster contest for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, a free alcohol educational conference, the creation and distribution of a wide range of educational materials, and training and technical assistance for organizations working to address the issues related to irresponsible consumption. The PLCB also provides millions of dollars in alcohol education grants to communities, educational institutions, and law enforcement agencies.

The PLCB regulates the distribution of beverage alcohol in Pennsylvania, operates more than 600 wine and spirits stores statewide, and licenses 20,000 alcohol producers, retailers, and handlers. The PLCB also works to reduce and prevent dangerous and underage drinking through partnerships with schools, community groups, and licensees. Taxes and store profits – totaling $16.5 billion since the agency's inception – are returned to Pennsylvania's General Fund, which finances Pennsylvania's schools, health and human services programs, law enforcement, and public safety initiatives, among other important public services. The PLCB also provides financial support for the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, other state agencies, and local municipalities across the state. For more information about the PLCB, visit www.lcb.pa.gov.

MEDIA CONTACT: Shawn M. Kelly, 717.783.8864

EDITOR'S NOTE: KnowWhenKnowHow.org offers downloadable resources, including videos, images, and logos that can be used with news coverage of the campaign.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board

Related Links

http://www.lcb.pa.gov