The good news is there are many things that parents can do to help their children avoid problems related to alcohol use. In that spirit, the AMA has 12 free gifts for parents to give to their children this holiday season:

1. Celebrate the holidays without alcohol, or drinking only moderately, and make sure alcohol is not provided at children's parties.

2. Set clear expectations about children's behavior.

3. Encourage children not to drink.

4. Ensure that alcohol in the home is not accessible to children, particularly when adults are not at home.

5. Educate children about the risks of alcohol use.

6. Encourage children to wait until they are adults before they consider drinking.

7. Help children resist influence of alcohol-consuming peers.

8. Discuss alcohol advertising with children and the reality of its messages.

9. Avoid making drunkenness seem humorous or desirable.

10. Make sure you know where and how your children are spending their free time.

11. Talk to your kids and be involved in their lives.

12. If you can't control your alcohol consumption -- seek help.

"Alcohol use is a very serious problem for our children. More than 11 million American kids drink, which means they are putting their lives at risk for a whole host of problems. Alcohol use is related to all of the major causes of death and serious injury for teenagers, including car crashes, unprotected sex, suicide and homicide," said Rich Yoast, Ph.D., director of the AMA's Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse -- which manages "Reducing Underage Drinking Through Coalitions: Youth and Adults United for Change" (RUDC), a national initiative supported by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Here are some statistics that parents should also be aware of:

-- Nearly 90% of tenth graders and 75% of eighth graders say that alcohol is "fairly easy" or "very easy" to get. (Johnston et al, 1996a.)

-- Youth alcohol use costs the nation more than $58 billion every year. (Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, 1999)

-- Research shows that better parental monitoring can reduce heavy drinking by adolescents. (Journal of Studies on Alcohol, May 1998)

 "Reducing Underage Drinking Through Coalitions" is a unique prevention effort designed to address those factors in society that create or exacerbate the problem of underage drinking. For instance, RUDC coalition members encourage alcohol retailers to establish model business policies and practices to ensure that they do not provide alcohol to youth. With business leaders, parents and youth, clergy, teachers and other concerned community leaders, RUDC coalitions strive to reduce the policies, practices and behaviors that combine to create alcohol-related problems for everyone.

"Reducing Underage Drinking Through Coalitions: Youth and Adults United for Change" (RUDC) coalitions in Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Texas, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico urge parents to be good role models this holiday season.

"In addition to positive parenting, adults can take many steps in their community to protect children from alcohol-related harm," Dr. Smoak said. "We know that most children get their alcohol at home or at a friend's home -- but they also know which store clerks will sell it to them. Parents can have a lot of influence with the minority of retailers who need to take steps to keep alcohol out of the hands of our children."

The AMA Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse also manages "A Matter of Degree: The National Effort to Reduce High Risk Drinking Among College Students," supported by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

SOURCE: American Medical Association

Web site: http://www.ama-assn.org/