Newsletter MADD Teen Influencer March 2025: Spring into Safety
Women’s History Month Playlist
Hike Like MADD
St. Patrick’s Day
Learn the history of St. Patrick’s Day and how it became associated with drinking alcohol.
Join us Saturday, May 3rd for a day of healing and wellness at the 2025 Hike Like MADD fundraiser.
Enjoy Willow’s Spotify playlist, created specially to celebrate Women’s History Month.
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by Ben Haworth, MADD Teen Influencer The History of St. Patrick’s Day (And Why Do We Drink?)
March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day. We all know the holiday is a time for green clothing, parades, shamrocks, leprechauns, but it’s also a day associated with consuming alcohol, especially beer dyed the color green. But
how did St. Patrick's Day become the biggest beer-drinking holiday in the U.S.? This centuries-old holiday began as a way to commemorate the patron saint of Ireland. However, St. Patrick was not actually Irish. He was born to 5th-century British parents, kidnapped by pirates at the age of 16, and taken to Ireland. Eventually, Patrick escaped and returned to Britain to become a Christian bishop. Not only was St. Patrick not Irish, he also wasn’t a true “saint” as he was never canonized by a pope. Regardless, many Catholics revere him, honoring his missionary work. Patrick returned to Ireland and would spend the rest of his life in Ireland, teaching the Irish about Christianity. One of the most iconic symbols surrounding St. Patrick’s Day is the shamrock. Sometime in the 18th century, people in Ireland began wearing shamrocks on their clothing, which over time evolved into today’s tradition of wearing green. St. Patrick is said to have died on March 17, 461. This is one of the biggest
MADD Teen Influencer
March 2025
reasons St. Patrick’s Day has become synonymous with drinking and the date on which the holiday falls. It also is within the Christian season of Lent, a time of abstaining from certain food and drink, including alcohol. In celebration of the life of their patron Saint, Irish Christians removed the restrictions associated with Lent on this day and threw large parties to commemorate his death. The second reason beer and St. Patrick’s Day is closely tied has to do with the Irish immigration of the 1840s. Fleeing to America to avoid the Potato Famine of the 1840s, thousands of Irish immigrants flocked to New England, bringing their culture and religion with them. More than a thousand years since the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland has become less of a symbol of Christianity and of the Irish people themselves. Wanting to celebrate their heritage, Irish Americans threw the first St. Patrick’s Day parade in Boston in 1737.
The break from Lent makes St. Patrick’s Day the top on-premises beer-drinking holiday in the United States. Unfortunately, this means that many teens partake in the festivities as well, which can have devastating results. Research shows that the human brain doesn’t finish developing until a person’s mid-20’s, and alcohol consumption can stunt that growth. A person whose first sip of alcohol comes at age 15 is six times more likely to become alcohol dependent than someone who starts drinking at the legal age of 21. The
prefrontal cortex controls a person’s threat-assessment and risk-taking and is the last part of the brain to develop, which is why teenagers often make dangerous and risky decisions. While St. Patrick’s Day has a long and interesting history, there are still dangerous consequences to the celebrations that the day has become known for. There are other ways we can celebrate safely with friends on St. Patrick’s Day not involving alcohol. Wear a festive green outfit for the day. Cook an Irish meal with friends. Attend a local parade. Plan an evening of games and activities, and serve non-alcoholic beverages. Have a safe and fun St. Patrick’s Day!
MADD Teen Influencer
March 2025
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Women’s History Month Playlist 2
by Willow Roberts, MADD Teen Influencer
Kick back, relax and press play - let the sounds of these amazing women fill the air! Whether you’re in the mood for smooth vibes from the 60s or catchy beats on the radio right now, their music is the perfect soundtrack for unwinding, enjoying the moment, and most importantly, celebrating Women’s History Month! Follow us @MADDCalifornia on social media to see our Women’s History Month spotlights, featuring the ladies of the Teen Influencer Group!
MADD Teen Influencer
March 2025
Saturday, May 3rd at 9AM 2025 Hike Like MADD Fundraiser 3
We warmly invite you to participate in a 2-mile hike day of healing and wellness. This special event will include a guided sound bath to help you reconnect with nature, reduce stress, and strengthen family bonds. All funds raised will allow us to continue providing our underage substance use prevention programs and impaired driving victim services for free to Southern California communities. Click flyer to register.
Check us out on YouTube and be sure to like, share, and subscribe to our Healthy Teen Talks podcast!
MADD's mission is to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking. The purpose of the Teen Influencer Group is to provide leadership development for teens by training them to be peer-to-peer educators. These teens provide MADD with the youth perspective and use their voice to educate the public. By reducing and then eliminating underage drinking, these teens will help MADD end drunk driving.
@MADDCalifornia
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