"Social workers sound alert on new generation of young drinkers - The Sunday Times 01 March 2015
Ben had his first drink of whiskey and cola when he was 13 and in Secondary One. It was with a group of friends, after school at a staircase near his Redhill home. It was not a big deal, insists Ben (not his real name), now 18.
"My older brother was already drinking and my father drank at home all the time," he said. He is part of a new generation of teenagers who are beginning to drink younger, say social workers concerned about a trend they started noticing about four years ago.
"In the past, most teenagers would start drinking at 15 or 16, but now we are seeing 12- or 13-year-olds," said Dr Carol Balhetchet, senior director for youth services at the Singapore Children's Society.
One of the main reasons is a growing tolerance for social drinking. "Nowadays, it's not uncommon for adults to drink socially in front of children," said Dr Balhetchet. That was how a seven-year-old girl had her first drink. "The mother was drinking wine and left it unfinished on the table, the girl just went up and took a sip," she said.
Figures for alcohol abuse among youth are mostly anecdotal, with VWOs saying they deal with between five and 10 cases each year. The National Addictions Management Service (NAMS) deals with 10 to 15 cases of problem drinking among youth aged 19 or below each year.
For Ben, that was in 2012 when he stole a bottle of blackcurrant-flavoured vodka from a convenience store. "I hadn't had a drink in two weeks and I couldn't afford alcohol. I couldn't control myself," said Ben, who is from a single-parent family and currently serving national service. He was caught on the store's CCTV cameras and arrested.
The problem is worrying because many go on to more serious vices, she noted. "It's thrill-seeking behaviour. One starts with smoking first, then drinking - and if they can smoke and drink and not get caught, they will move on to the next level," she said, adding that some move on to drugs such as Ice and Ecstasy.
This appears to corroborate Central Narcotics Bureau data which shows that drug addicts under 30 now make up two-thirds of new abusers. Mr Moses Huang, counselling therapist at Ain Society, said the common thread that unites young alcohol abusers tends to be parental neglect. "They can come from low-income families or the super rich. If parents don't spend time with them to educate them about drinking, they can be easily influenced," he added.
The VWOs said a concerted effort is needed to address the problem - with education both in schools and in the home. The Liquor Control Bill - which bans public consumption of alcohol after 10.30pm, and is expected to come into force in April - will also help, said Ms Sheena. She said the ban is coming at the right time, and added: "If not, you would see more and more young people wasting their lives away drinking.""
The number cited does not look overwhelming. 5-10 cases each year or 10-15 cases each year.
Lessons for me are:
1. IF the MAIN contributing reason is: Parental Neglect, then the focus HAS to BE on the Parents!!;
2. as a Volunteer Probation Officer (VPO), I do come across probationers who have challenges communicating with their parents. Many parents are unable to demonstrate their love and concerns in a manner that come across to the child/children as 'love and conerns'. In this drinking problem situation, I can imagine some of the words and questions used by concerned and loving parents like: do you know it is bad for you to drink at such a young age? do you know how much it will cost to maintain a drinking habit? why are you mixing with these bad friends of yours? etc. Instead of: 'when I saw you drinking, I am very concerned as alcohols will impact your developing brains and may damage it on a permanent basis.' or 'I have read this medical report on how alcohols damaged young developing brain' and though it is interesting to share it with you?; etc;
3. so, after we have tackled the parents' education and 'parenting skills upgrading' programs if you like, we work with the kids-at-risk. Definitely in-your-face education at schools where the 'young potential drinkers' are is a must. Enforcement of no sales of liquor to minors must be strengthened. Schools counsellors' attitudes and skills on dealing with young drinkers must continually be raised. Of course, as with the age-old debate on banning sales of tobaccos, some will advocate for banning the sales of alcoholic drinks. Well, responsible drinkers after legal age must be allowed their freedom to choose. Just like responsible adult smokers. They know the damages to their health. They decide. For the young kids, they are NOT ready to decide. It will be WRONG if we DON'T protect them!
Ben had his first drink of whiskey and cola when he was 13 and in Secondary One. It was with a group of friends, after school at a staircase near his Redhill home. It was not a big deal, insists Ben (not his real name), now 18.
"My older brother was already drinking and my father drank at home all the time," he said. He is part of a new generation of teenagers who are beginning to drink younger, say social workers concerned about a trend they started noticing about four years ago.
"In the past, most teenagers would start drinking at 15 or 16, but now we are seeing 12- or 13-year-olds," said Dr Carol Balhetchet, senior director for youth services at the Singapore Children's Society.
One of the main reasons is a growing tolerance for social drinking. "Nowadays, it's not uncommon for adults to drink socially in front of children," said Dr Balhetchet. That was how a seven-year-old girl had her first drink. "The mother was drinking wine and left it unfinished on the table, the girl just went up and took a sip," she said.
Figures for alcohol abuse among youth are mostly anecdotal, with VWOs saying they deal with between five and 10 cases each year. The National Addictions Management Service (NAMS) deals with 10 to 15 cases of problem drinking among youth aged 19 or below each year.
For Ben, that was in 2012 when he stole a bottle of blackcurrant-flavoured vodka from a convenience store. "I hadn't had a drink in two weeks and I couldn't afford alcohol. I couldn't control myself," said Ben, who is from a single-parent family and currently serving national service. He was caught on the store's CCTV cameras and arrested.
The problem is worrying because many go on to more serious vices, she noted. "It's thrill-seeking behaviour. One starts with smoking first, then drinking - and if they can smoke and drink and not get caught, they will move on to the next level," she said, adding that some move on to drugs such as Ice and Ecstasy.
This appears to corroborate Central Narcotics Bureau data which shows that drug addicts under 30 now make up two-thirds of new abusers. Mr Moses Huang, counselling therapist at Ain Society, said the common thread that unites young alcohol abusers tends to be parental neglect. "They can come from low-income families or the super rich. If parents don't spend time with them to educate them about drinking, they can be easily influenced," he added.
The VWOs said a concerted effort is needed to address the problem - with education both in schools and in the home. The Liquor Control Bill - which bans public consumption of alcohol after 10.30pm, and is expected to come into force in April - will also help, said Ms Sheena. She said the ban is coming at the right time, and added: "If not, you would see more and more young people wasting their lives away drinking.""
The number cited does not look overwhelming. 5-10 cases each year or 10-15 cases each year.
Lessons for me are:
1. IF the MAIN contributing reason is: Parental Neglect, then the focus HAS to BE on the Parents!!;
2. as a Volunteer Probation Officer (VPO), I do come across probationers who have challenges communicating with their parents. Many parents are unable to demonstrate their love and concerns in a manner that come across to the child/children as 'love and conerns'. In this drinking problem situation, I can imagine some of the words and questions used by concerned and loving parents like: do you know it is bad for you to drink at such a young age? do you know how much it will cost to maintain a drinking habit? why are you mixing with these bad friends of yours? etc. Instead of: 'when I saw you drinking, I am very concerned as alcohols will impact your developing brains and may damage it on a permanent basis.' or 'I have read this medical report on how alcohols damaged young developing brain' and though it is interesting to share it with you?; etc;
3. so, after we have tackled the parents' education and 'parenting skills upgrading' programs if you like, we work with the kids-at-risk. Definitely in-your-face education at schools where the 'young potential drinkers' are is a must. Enforcement of no sales of liquor to minors must be strengthened. Schools counsellors' attitudes and skills on dealing with young drinkers must continually be raised. Of course, as with the age-old debate on banning sales of tobaccos, some will advocate for banning the sales of alcoholic drinks. Well, responsible drinkers after legal age must be allowed their freedom to choose. Just like responsible adult smokers. They know the damages to their health. They decide. For the young kids, they are NOT ready to decide. It will be WRONG if we DON'T protect them!
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