PARENTS, TEENS, AND DRINKING
Teenage drunk driving is a serious issue. Every year, over 10,000 people die as a result of drunk driving crashes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 10 high schoolers drinks and drives. On top of that, 1 in 5 teenagers involved in fatal wrecks had alcohol in their system at the time of the crash. And a majority of those teens (81%) had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above the legal limit. What can parents, grandparents, and guardians do to protect teens? The saying “prevention is the best medicine” applies here. You can take steps to help your teenager realize the real danger that exists when they (or a friend) drink and drive. Talk to them about underage DUIs. Teens should be aware of the underage DUI. With zero tolerance laws in all states, drivers under the age of 21 caught with any alcohol in their system will face arrest and underage DUI charges. Unless they have an experienced DUI attorney defending them in court, the likelihood of conviction is high. Being declared a DUI offender comes with short-term and lifelong consequences, including possible jail time, hefty fines, and ignition interlock device installation. Encourage them to befriend nondrinkers. Who your teen becomes friends with is never up to you, but you should at least make it clear to them that you want their friends to be nondrinkers, too. Try your best to know who your teen hangs out with. If you find out that there’s a known drinker in their circle, limit the time they spend with them by setting up strict rules about after school hours. What Can You Do to Discourage Drinking?
MEME CORNER Monitor them. If you are concerned about your teen’s habits, monitoring may be your next step. Your teen will see how serious you are about drinking if you do things like wait for them to come home after a party or gathering to determine whether they’ve had a drink or not. If you want to be discreet about it, you can resort to simple gestures like hugging, looking into their eyes, or engaging in small talk to check for evidence of alcohol consumption.
Cooking With Ashley
FESTIVE APPLE CIDER
If you’re cutting back on calories, skip the eggnog and buttered rum this year and fill up your mug with this delicious mulled cider!
Ingredients
Directions
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1 lemon
1. Using a paring knife, shave the lemon peel off in curls. Reserve the curls and save the lemon for use in a different recipe. 2. In a large slow cooker, combine the lemon peel with all other ingredients. Cook on low for 3–4 hours. 3. If desired, use a sieve to strain the spices. Serve and enjoy!
1 gallon pure apple cider 1 large orange, thinly sliced crosswise
2 tsp whole cloves 2 tsp allspice berries
1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced
2 tbsp honey
3 cinnamon sticks
Inspired by BoulderLocavore.com
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www.matthewkoneckypa.com
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