Nobody can tell me what to do. I'm old enough to decide for myself. Availability - Children and teens report that it is very easy to get drugs and alcohol. In spite of the fact that it is illegal in all states for minors to purchase alcohol, teens say alcohol easily is accessible in stores. Sometimes they don't even ask your age.
Many unsupervised children drink their parents' alcohol right in their own home.
Even more alarming are the growing number of situations where parents of teens actually supply the alcohol and the location for parties in the hope that this will keep their kids from drinking and driving. Parents are surprised to discover that some teens report that it's easier to find and purchase marijuana and other illicit drugs than alcohol. Advertising - The alcohol and tobacco industries need to reach kids in order to survive. You can't deny that TV beer ads are some of the most interesting and creative. Because of where they are in the developmental process, children and teens are fair game for advertising messages suggesting that drinking and smoking lead to maturity, sophistication, fun, beauty, sex appeal and acceptance.