Childhood Drinking: A New Kind Of Conversation

A New Kind Of Conversation
Making Choices About Underage Drinking In The Community

Hard Problems Require Public Deliberation
Communities across America face tough problems, what some scholars call “wicked problems”
These are problems where:
The cause is not clear
The solution is not clear
Any solution will take multiple actors (different groups, citizens, government, etc.)

Wicked Problems Are Political And Involve Values
“Wicked problems” aren’t technical problems, otherwise we would have solved them
They involve trade offs between values, and also require political will
Example: Terrorism in U.S. involves tension between security and freedom
They require deliberation

What Deliberation Takes
Real choices
Evenhanded presentation
Address trade offs

This Discussion Guide
How should our community prevent and reduce drinking by children aged 9-15?
Three Options
Neutral
Each Option Has Drawbacks As Well As Advantages
Face Trade Offs

Introduction

Option One
Reach Children With Problems Early
“Some children have problems when it comes to alcohol and other issues. We need to find them as early as possible and help them.”
But: Professionals will intrude in families’ lives; the issue may get pushed underground.

Option Two
Remove Access and Incentives
“If we are going to make it so our children don't drink, we will need to change the community. This includes not only making it harder to get access to alcohol, but also stronger enforcement of the laws.”
But: We will need more control over children's day-to-day activities as well as more restrictions on adults' behavior

Option Three
Help Children Through A Difficult Time In Development
“We need to help children through the difficult elementary and middle school years so they do not get derailed.“
But: Responsibility for parenting children will shift from the family to professionals.

For More Information
Leadership To Keep Children Alcohol Free Foundation www.alcoholfreechildren.org
National Issues Forums Institutewww.nifi.org

Childhood Drinking: A New Kind Of Conversation

by Brad Rourke on Feb 12, 2010

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