Alcohol awareness activities at an early age teach kids about the effects of underage drinking. The activities give kids the knowledge and confidence they need to deal with peer pressure related to alcohol. Alcohol awareness activities work well in the classroom for elementary, middle school and high school students.
Alcohol-Free Pledge
A pledge against alcohol consumption helps kids think about their actions. The pledge serves as a commitment to staying away from underage drinking. Write a pledge as a group to give the kids more ownership over the pledge they are signing. Print decorative copies of the pledges, and hang them on a bulletin board once the kids sign them.
Future Plans Essay
Kids who engage in underage drinking may not think about the long-term effects of their decision. This writing activity asks the kids to think about their goals, both short-term and long-term. This might include playing on a sports team, going to college or performing in plays. Ask the kids to imagine what might happen to those goals if they choose to drink. Remind them that many activities have a zero-tolerance policy for underage drinking.
Guest Speakers
Guest speakers give kids a chance to hear firsthand about the negative side effects of consuming alcohol. Riley Hospital for Children recommends inviting a guest speaker who has been affected by alcohol, such as a parent who lost a child due to an alcohol-related incident or a recovering alcoholic who can talk about how alcohol hurt him. Encourage the kids to ask questions after the speaker shares his experiences.
Role Playing
Role playing gives kids a chance to practice saying no to alcohol. Peer pressure often causes kids to try alcohol and other potentially harmful activity. The more confident a child is in resisting peer pressure, the more likely she will be able to say no in an actual situation. Let each child have a chance responding to a situation in which a friend is trying to get her to drink. Discuss the options afterward, including things a child might say when being pressured.
