Making Choices Around Alcohol

Role on the Wall: Draw a very large outline of a figure on the board. Let’s say that this is an “Average Alaskan Teenager” who’s trying to make some decisions about whether or not to drink. What messages could this be young person be getting from the outside pushing for and against drinking? Write down students’ answers on the outside of the body. Who might be these sending messages about drinking? Label names next to messages. As a result of these messages, how might this kid be feeling on the inside about themselves and about alcohol? Write down feelings on the inside of the body outline. You can also connect certain phrases/people to certain feelings inside the body.

Persuasion Improv: Let’s say that this same young person is in a situation where they’re deciding whether or not to drink (or binge drink). What might such a situation be? Where would the young people be? Define a location. Let’s see if we can explore this as a quick improvisation. We are going to put two people next to our Alaskan Teenager—one for, one against drinking. The teenager in the middle is going to have to talk with both of these people and respond to their messages. Have students volunteer for roles. Encourage them to use the phrases that were brainstormed during the “Role on the Wall” activity. Let them know we will all help them with ideas.

Set up: Three chairs, middle chair must make decision. Left person talks with center person and convince. Facilitator yells switch, and the right person must talk with the center person and convince. Switch back and forth a few times, quickly…After a while, debrief with the audience. Who was the most convincing? Why? Could they have been more convincing? Would someone else have been more convincing? How could they do it? Optional: Invite others up to try it out after they offer ideas…

Discuss: What are effective strategies to help a teen chose not to binge drink? What kind of support do they need?

Real/Ideal Images (advertising messages): We are going to talk about another kind of persuasion for a few minutes—how advertisers market alcohol to young people. We are going to make a frozen picture of a magazine advertisement for a new drink. The slogan of the ad campaign is “On weekends, relax with friends and a bottle of Porter’s.” (Demonstrate by creating a quick frozen image with volunteers from the audience.)We’d like you to make an image like this, something you might see that sells a drink. Come up with an image and a slogan. Then we’d like you to make a second image—one that is more realistic to you, of how people use alcohol. Give students time to create images in small group. Walk around and assist where necessary. View images one at a time.  Ask Describe, Analyze, Relate questions. What do you see in each? What is the advertisement suggesting? How do you see that in their body language? What about the other scenario? What does the body language say?