Iowa Spirits Spring Summer 2019 - 32

IOWA ABD AGE TO
PURCHASE APP NOW
AVAILABLE
The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division has
released a free mobile application that allows
users to scan driver's licenses with their
smartphone. No personal information of the
customer is stored on the device. The built-in
scanning function uses the camera feature on
the device to scan the barcode on the driver's
license to quickly help determine age and
validity. The app also gives users access to a
view similar to the desktop calendars
previously issued by ABD as well as two
online training programs, I-PACT and
I-PLEDGE, which help teach responsible
selling and serving of alcohol, tobacco,
alternative nicotine, and vapor products.
The Iowa ABD Age to Purchase App is now
available via the App Store and Google Play
Store.

you're more likely to have a positive effect on
her behavior. It's critical to know where your kids
are and how to reach them by phone. Give them
a curfew and check in regularly. Get to know your
children's friends and their families.
After graduating from high school, kids need
more independence. You won't know all their
friends or what they're doing every moment, but
you can still have a profound influence on their
decision-making. First and foremost, be honest.
Don't hide from awkward details. Instead, be
concrete, thorough and candid about the risks
of underage drinking. A girl who's been drinking,
for example, is much more likely to experience
sexual assault. Kids who start drinking early in
life are more likely to experience serious legal
and health issues. These are the facts that your
kids need to know.
Second, make this a true dialogue. Listen as
much-or even more-than you speak. You might
discover that your child is looking for someone
to talk to. You might also discover that she has
underlying concerns that need to be addressed,
either with you or through counseling.

32 IOWA SPIRITS

Encourage your child to share her feelings.
Discuss how you struggled with the temptation
to drink when you were young, or how you didn't
and what the consequences were. You want to
be supportive and understanding, but at the
same time you need to establish clear boundaries. Tell your children what you expect from them
and what the laws are. Always make it very clear,
however, that, if they do drink and need a ride
home you will come get them. Drunk driving, or
riding with a driver who is drunk, is always unacceptable. Make sure they know this and understand why.
The fact that you sit down with your child and
speak to him like an adult is a sign of respect,
love and concern. He'll understand this, even if
the conversation is awkward. The Mayo Clinic
suggests that you debunk the myths that many
teenagers believe. A drink or two does not make
you drive better; it significantly reduces your
ability to focus and react. Alcohol isn't a happy
pill; it's a depressant that will often lead to anger,
sadness and rage.

PEER PRESSURE

Another effective strategy is to practice handling
peer pressure. What will you say and do when
someone offers you a beer? When someone
who's been drinking reaches for the car keys?

Iowa Spirits Spring Summer 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Iowa Spirits Spring Summer 2019