Issue Date: April 30, 2006
Sober advice for prom night
Some sobering statistics about teen drinking and driving are worth noting this prom season: In April and May 2004, nearly half of all weekend traffic fatalities among 15- to 20-year-olds were alcohol-related -- 11% higher than other times of the year.
But if you think your "don't drink-and-drive" message falls on deaf ears, two new studies, one published in the April "Journal of Adolescent Health" and the other from Brigham Young University, provide a welcome wake-up call. Both affirm that kids whose parents keep close tabs on where they are and who they're with are far less likely to drink. A zero-tolerance policy on alcohol also keeps kids away from booze.
But how to put these encouraging findings into action? Some ideas:
Don't wait until prom night to make your views and rules about alcohol known. Revisit the conversation several times a year, and be sure to follow through consistently with consequences when kids break rules.
Get to know your teen's friends and where they hang out. The Brigham Young study authors warn that as the number of close friends who drink alcohol increases, the risk of binge drinking skyrockets, almost doubling.
Put your child's safety above all else. Stress that if your teen or his ride has consumed any alcohol at all, he should call for you to pick him up -- no questions asked.
Ann Pleshette Murphy is ABC's Good Morning America parenting expert and author of The 7 Stages of Motherhood, new in paperback.
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If Mom eats sprouts, it may help Baby's heart
Eating broccoli sprouts while pregnant might help save your child from heart disease later in life. That's the intriguing conclusion of a new Canadian study.
The offspring of animals fed broccoli sprouts while pregnant had lower blood pressure and less inflammation as adults. The changes were permanent and profound.
Human studies are planned. Meanwhile, this study's lead researcher says an effective amount for humans likely would be 7 ounces of sprouts, three times a week during pregnancy.
Why the veggie is so effective: Broccoli's key antioxidant, sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS), is up to 50 times more concentrated in sprouts than it is in mature broccoli.
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Don't fall for bogus concert tickets
My husband was bummed when he got turned away from the Cream reunion concert last fall after buying a $50 ticket from a scalper. Since then, we've discovered fake tickets don't stop at the street corner: They're becoming an epidemic on the Internet, as crooks use websites such as eBay and Craigslist or set up faux fan-club sites to sell the fakes.
The only ironclad source: the authorized seller, such as the box office or Ticketmaster.
If you can't use them, try these tips to keep your tickets legit:
Never wire money. That's one clue that the deal may be shady.
Look for credentials. Select a seller that is registered with the National Association of Ticket Brokers, accepts credit cards and offers money-back guarantees. Know that laws governing brokers and secondary sellers vary between states and aren't always strictly enforced.
Don't buy a printout. Brokers are starting to e-mail tickets to customers. The tickets have the original buyer's name as well as a bar code printed on them, and they are scanned at the door. Unfortunately, there is nothing to prevent someone from printing duplicates.
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Hustle through airport security with a VIP pass
If you'd like to speed through airport security every time you fly, the new Registered Traveler program may be for you. A company called Verified Identity Pass (Verified ID) has devised a system allowing select travelers to access fast security lines at airports. The Transportation Security Administration has approved the national program, to launch June 20, with Orlando, San Jose and Indianapolis likely to be the first airports. Verified ID expects 10 airports to be on board by year's end.
To become a Registered Traveler, you'll need to provide your name, address, Social Security number (optional but recommended) and an annual fee of about $80. You also must submit to fingerprinting and have an iris image and photograph taken. The TSA will subject your application to a security threat assessment, approving or denying your membership. If you are not approved, there is no charge.
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