Time and again it has been proven that abstinence-only education is not only ineffective, but counterproductive. Although Massachusetts has rejected federal funding under Title V in regards to abstinence-only sexual education, the abstinence rhetoric surrounding underage drinking is still widely prevalent in our homes and schools. This rhetoric is created using scare tactics, blurring the line between alcohol use and alcohol abuse, and by warping alcohol use into a reflection of poor character.
Since 1982, when First Lady Nancy Reagan answered “Just say no” to a school girl wondering how she could respond if she was offered alcohol, schools across the country have adopted programs designed to deter youth from alcohol use. In theory, it seems it would be beneficial to combat alcohol usage in underage students by discouraging it altogether, but when actually implemented, this strategy fails to acknowledge the omnipresence of underage drinking and creates a dangerous environment for those who are not deterred.
Equating alcohol use to alcohol abuse and spreading the word that underage alcohol consumption reflects poorly on one’s character heightens the stigma surrounding drinking, but does not successfully deter youth. Rather, it increases a lack of knowledge about responsible drinking and safe drinking habits. According to an article written by Ruth C. Engs, a professor of Applied Health Science at Indiana University, “Research has revealed low incidence of alcoholism or alcohol abuse among cultural groups who use alcohol as part of their daily lives,” that is, among cultural groups lacking the stigma around alcohol use. The common theme among these cultures is an implementation of education about responsible drinking habits and attitudes.
Instead of simply discouraging alcohol use in young adults, we should be taking steps to ensure that those who choose to drink, regardless of the deterrents, have the knowledge that they need in order to drink responsibly and safely: teach the importance of hydration and food while drinking, teach the importance of appointing a Designated Driver or putting your keys in a bowl before drinking, and teach the importance of knowing your limits and paying attention to the way you are affected by alcohol consumption. This curriculum should also affirm that alcohol consumption is neither a virtue nor a sin; drinking does not make you a morally bad person nor does it make you a better person.
Including information on responsible and safe drinking habits in the current curriculum does not and should not mean it should disregard those who do choose to abstain. It must promote the importance of respect for either decision, whether one chooses to drink or to abstain. Additionally, it should provide those who choose the latter with efficient social tools for rejecting offers of alcohol and removing themselves from situations and environments that make them feel uncomfortable or unsafe. This inclusion of both sides is pivotal, as it does not abandon any young adult and lessens the negative impacts that all youth may face.
Alcohol, unarguably, is a tremendous part of youth culture, and there is no amount of abstinence-only education that is going to change that. In order to successfully reduce alcohol-related deaths and injuries, we must refrain from the “Just say no” model and instead turn our attention on to providing tools for responsible drinking to those who do choose to drink, and providing tools for abstaining for those who choose to abstain.
