Raising Kids in the Age of Foolishness

There are enough fools in the world!

Raising Kids in the Age of Foolishness: Drinking Advice #4 Impairment

It Distorts Perception and Leads to Regret

•             “Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse things.” — Proverbs 23:33

I admit it. I often laugh at the impairment produced by drinking. The slurred speech, the stumbling around, the disheveled appearance, and the stupid actions can be entertaining. In the old days, there was a comedian named Foster Brooks whose act was to act drunk. He was funny. Dean Martin was seen with a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other, and when roasted by his peers his drinking was the focus. Drug use among rock stars is celebrated. Willie is known for his pot smoking. College students often try to see who can out drink the other, sometimes leading to alcohol poisoning. I have even seen people give alcohol to pets and children just to see how funny they will act. I grew up in the era of the rise of psychedelic drugs. Kids would space out. They would see things that seemed real to them. Many of them had a “bad trip” and what they saw was not very cool.

The wise man warns us that drinking and drugs are no laughing matter. Substances will make you see things that aren’t there and say things that never should be said. “Loose lips sink ships.” Secrets are revealed while under the influence. Alcohol and pot lower inhibitions and allow you to do what you would never do when sober. The impaired claim they just did not know what they were doing. Even serious crimes like murder and rape are committed when one of the parties or both are impaired. The date-rape drug is one example. The perpetrator knows if he can incapacitate his prey, he will remove the resistance.

Parents, do you seriously want your children to ever be in a state of mind where they will see strange things and utter perverse things? When they see you drink, they also see how it affects you, either for good or bad. If the effect seems fun, then they may want to try it. If the effect seems bad, then they still may want to try it because it will give them an excuse to act crazy. Children want to experience what you experience. They want to go on the trip. Drinking that first beer (if it really is the first) with your son when he turns 21 is not cool. We must not give our children permission to have less self-control. They do not need to drink to fit in. In fact, their friends will probably need a designated driver. Parents quit laughing at impaired people. It is not funny.