Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Battle with the Bottle

Part of the teaching at our after-school children’s clubs this week is on the dangers of alcohol abuse. You might wonder why it’s necessary to share such information with kids as young as 4 and 5 years old. It’s because, sadly, the younger ones are just as vulnerable as the teenagers who are more typically tempted by drink.

Beer and liquor is sold in the community bars (known as “shabeens”). Parents will send their kids on errands to bring back drink from these places. Empty bottles litter the area. Kids can see alcohol abuse is a way of life among the adults. They grow up thinking it’s normal and acceptable.

We’ve even heard reports of 7- and 8-year-olds drinking beer themselves. And if the kids aren’t using it yet, many are still suffering the consequences at home, in the form of domestic abuse from and among their parents.

How do you combat that? There are no clear solutions. All we know to do is pray, share God’s word and be available to kids who are willing to talk about their fears, doubts and insecurities.

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