Dear Russian parent: Yes Are you drunk in the house and feel a little extra worry at the moment? Then it can be nice to know that your boundaries can make Russian time safer for the young people.
Russian time is over many a nice celebration. A memorable period after finishing school with friends. At the same time, we know that the probability of unwanted incidents is higher during rush hour.
One of the expectations to Russian time is to drink a lot of alcohol. But as the blood alcohol level rises, one becomes more impulsive and risk-averse, and less able to assess consequences. This increases the risk of violence, sexual assault and trampling, and experimentation with other drugs. Every year, Russians themselves report on pressure to drink, serious accidents and unwanted sexual attention.
It can be difficult to know how you, as a parent, should deal with Russian time. On the one hand, Russian time is a ritual of freedom for your soon-to-be-adult son or daughter, and a form of detachment. At the same time, many will feel a sense of worry and uneasiness, and a desire to be of use.
Research shows that that parents can play an important role. Studies show that young people listen to their parents the most when it comes to alcohol. And young people with clear agreements and rules around alcohol at home drink less than peers without such agreements.
In a fresh survey conducted by Ipsos for Av-og-til, 72 per cent in Troms believe that parents are responsible for creating a safe and good Russian time. We are happy to see that the important role of parents for young people in the Russian era is recognised. Because Russian time is not only the youth’s arena. It is also a parental responsibility.
That’s you who knows your young person best, and therefore knows what problems may arise during the Russian period. By being a safe adult, who has clear rules about alcohol – while being present if something should happen, you can make Russian time a safer and better experience for your young person.
We hope these the advice can be of support to you who are a Russian parent:
-
Talk together. As a parent, it is your responsibility to take the initiative to have an open and honest conversation about alcohol and drunkenness. It is important to create a safe and supportive environment where the teenager feels free to share thoughts, concerns and experiences.
-
Set clear boundaries for what is okay and what is not okay. Surveys show that parents feel passed over when their children become teenagers. But the young people don’t answer that – they actually answer the opposite. They listen to their parents, and what their parents say matters.
-
Be available. Always pick up the phone when your Russian calls – even if it’s in the middle of the night.
