Amica Insurance Study Reveals Teen Attitudes Toward Drinking
1 May 2000
Amica Insurance Study Reveals Teen Attitudes Toward DrinkingResults may open lines of communication between parents and their teenagers and reduce teen drinking and driving LINCOLN, R.I., May 1 As a parent, what can you possibly say or do to convince your teenager not to drink and drive? Believe it or not, a few short words such as, "You are the most important person in my life," may make your child think twice. A recent study conducted by Amica Insurance confirms that teenagers whose parents "talk with them" versus "talking at them" may be less at risk to engage in harmful behavior involving alcohol. What's more, teens said they would be more apt not to drink and drive if they heard directly from their parents how important they are to them. The teen focus group was an outgrowth of Save the Night, an Amica program designed to help underwrite the cost of 133 post-prom parties across the country, for a total contribution of $133,000. "Our study has revealed some eye-opening news about teen attitudes regarding alcohol and the role it plays in their lives," said Thomas A. Taylor, President & CEO of Amica. "We would like to share our findings as a service to parents, encouraging them to communicate to their teens that it is in the best interest of themselves, their families and friends not to drink and drive." Focus group results also indicated that although teenagers are aware of the dangers of underage drinking, most do drink. Drinking after school, on weekends, on half-days, at parties and before and after school dances and games were the most popular venues. Drinking typically takes place in wooded areas or parks, near school property or in a friend's house. What's alarming is that teenagers say the parents are quite often on the premise and are either oblivious or choose not to notice what's happening around them. Teens felt that the most influential anti-drinking and driving message does not come from a celebrity, sports figure or ad campaign, but from a much closer source - their parents. One respondent noted, "My mother once said something to me before I went out and I cried because I felt so bad. She said she wouldn't be anything without me in her life." Another added, "Yeah, it does work. If my mother said that to me I'd be her best friend. I wouldn't want to leave her side." However, according to a 1999 study by Drug Strategies, out of 500 parents surveyed nationwide, only 25 percent give their children a no-use message about alcohol. "We are thrilled with Amica's ongoing approach to reduce teenage drinking and impaired driving," added Gabrielle Abbate, MADD Rhode Island's assistant executive director. "By listening to our teens and supporting post-prom parties and educational forums throughout the country, Amica reinforces MADD's mission to find effective solutions to drunk driving and underage drinking." As part of the study, teens were asked to evaluate seven statements and select two that they felt would deter them from drinking and driving. Most teenagers said they are more concerned about how their actions could negatively affect other people than how they could harm themselves. Teenagers identified the two most compelling statements as: -- "You could kill or irreversibly harm another person and you would have to live with that." -- "You don't want to disappoint those who love you and care about you." One participant added, "If I had to stop a friend from driving drunk, I'd ask her to think about her family and how much it would affect them." When the teens learned of statistical data, such as 20 percent of all 16-20 year old deaths are caused by alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents, they considered these statistics informative, although they did not prompt as emotional a reaction like the aforementioned statements. "Teenagers said that they drink to relieve stress or simply because everyone else is doing it," said Mr. Taylor. "What's most disheartening is that all participants in the study relayed that they know kids who drink and drive. Our hope is that through the strong results of these focus groups in collaboration with Amica's Save the Night program parents will openly communicate with their teenagers particularly during this high-risk season of proms and graduations." Amica was founded in 1907 and is the nation's oldest mutual insurer of automobiles. The company, with corporate headquarters in Lincoln, Rhode Island, is a national writer of automobile, homeowners, marine and personal excess liability insurance. Amica employs more than 3,000 professionals in 41 offices across the country. For the past 76 years, Amica has received A.M. Best Company's top rating for financial performance (currently A++). For the fifth consecutive year, the company was named to the Ward's 50 Benchmark Group that recognizes the top 50 performing companies in the United States. Standard & Poor's has assigned its AA+ financial strength rating to Amica. The company also consistently earns the highest customer service ratings from a nationally recognized consumer publication.