WSJ looks at binge drinking in the U.K.--it's a big problem

Don't buy into the myth that binge drinking is not a problem for those under 21 in other countries. Here is one snippet from an article in the WSJ this month:

The average Briton 15 and older drinks the equivalent of about 11.2 liters (about three gallons) of pure alcohol a year, compared with the OECD average of 9.7 liters, and 8.6 liters in the U.S. Over one-quarter of England's population is "drinking at hazardous levels," according to a recent report by the Royal College of Physicians and the National Health Service Confederation

To read the entire article go to: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704588404575123691166554882.html

Are your kids sneaking into R-rated movies?

According to USA Today's Sharon Jayson, "Middle-schoolers who are forbidden to watch R-rated movies are less likely to start drinking than peers whose parents are more lenient about such films, new research on 2,406 children shows. Researchers at Dartmouth Medical School found that among those whose parents let them watch R-rated movies "all the time," almost a quarter had tried a drink without their parents' knowledge. That compares with barely 3% who tried a drink among those who were "never allowed" to watch R-movies."

What show are you going to see this weekend? What show is your pre-teen or teen going to watch?

It's a constant battle

My daughter is in college and is exposed to parties of all sorts. I'm not naive enough to think that there probably isn't booze at these parties, so I'm continually carrying on the dialogue with her about underage drinking. I remind her (again) about the dangerous effects of drinking underage, as well as the fact that it is illegal since she's under 21. Of course, her daddy Mike was killed by a drunk driver when she was a baby, so there is that as one of the biggest reasons to never drink, drive drunk or get in a car with someone who has been drinking. It IS a constant battle...but, we're winning.

Hello Kitty is Old Enough to Drink

Let's just say I am very familiar with the Hello Kitty brand and now can be thankful that not only will my daughters be able to play with her pencils, purses and stuffed animals, but when old enough (21), to drink Hello Kitty wine.

As women continue to catch up with men in drinking and drunk driving, is this a good idea?