The Plan resources are now available in Alexandra, in response to requests from local parents.

Talking with your teen about alcohol, parties and keeping themselves safe isn’t always easy, but the experts behind bringing the initiative ‘The Plan’ to Central Otago have provided some resources to help parents right where alcohol is sold – starting with Super Liquor in Alexandra.

CODA, or Central Otago Drugs and Alcohol, is a group of eighteen organisations that has taken positive action to help reduce harm to people in our local communities.

“The younger a person starts drinking alcohol, the more likely they are to go on to drink harmfully in their late teens and into their adult life,” says Public Health South health promoter Sophie Glover.

Parents got together and talked about what support they needed, and ‘The Plan’ emerged as a resource to help parents clearly understand laws relating to minors, have positive conversations with their teens and help them make good decisions.

 The Plan resources have been created to answer local parents’ questions.

Sophie says Alexandra parents really wanted clarification on the law, and how to talk to their teens. Feedback from Alexandra parents included:

“We want to know what we should be doing when our teens are having a few drinks with their friends around home.”

“I would like more information on what supervision actually means; do I need to be in the same room?”

“There can be a lot of pressure to supply alcohol to your teen, is giving in to that pressure the right thing to do?”

“If you’re hosting a party,” says Stephanie Bekhuis-Pay of Public Health South, “parents need to be aware they need parental consent if providing alcohol.

“And you’ve got to be at the party with the kids, not tucked away in the house while they’re in the shed.

“It’s about being there, watching what’s going on, ensuring there’s plenty of food, plenty of non-alcoholic drinks, transport home, all these things.

“And knowing your responsibilities under the law if you give your teen alcohol.”

“When we spoke to parents, we found they weren’t really sure what ‘express consent’ or ‘active supervision’ meant in real terms.”

‘Express permission’ or ‘express consent’ does not mean a message relayed through your teen. ‘Express consent’ means a personal conversation, an email or text message that you have good reason to believe is genuine.

Mel Ferguson of Alexandra Super Liquor says they are happy to support the rollout of The Plan in Alexandra.

“Peer pressure’s pretty hard, but there’s more information and support now – more than when I was a teenager.”

There are some great online resources on alcohol.org.nz and The Plan website has a variety of facts and conversation starters here.

Look for The Plan cardboard stand at Alexandra Super Liquor for resources you can take away with you.

Images Mary Hinsen

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