Amica Insurance Study Reveals Teen Attitudes Toward Drinking
1 May 2000
Amica Insurance Study Reveals Teen Attitudes Toward Drinking Results 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.
