NCJ Number
219947
Journal
Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 16 Issue: 4 Dated: 2007 Pages: 119-126
Date Published
2007
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Since the most recent book in the popular Harry Potter series, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," has several references to underage drinking and to adults providing alcohol to minors, this article suggests that the book be used as a context for discussing underage drinking with children and youth.
Abstract
All of the Harry Potter books explore various universal themes, such as acceptance, courage, good versus evil, and "coming of age." Related to this last theme, drinking alcoholic beverages is featured in all the books. Beginning with the first book, Hagrid, the school gamekeeper and a teacher, is periodically intoxicated. "Butterbeer," a beverage sold in wizarding taverns, is consumed by students as young as 13 years old. In the most recent book, however, the author takes underage drinking to a new level as she describes several instances of teachers offering alcoholic beverages to students. Despite its relatively innocent and benign treatment in the books, it is not clear how many children and adolescents might read of these events and think that drinking alcohol is funny or acceptable behavior for an adolescent. Of even more concern is the message that it is appropriate for adults to serve alcohol to adolescents and drink with them to intoxication. Psychiatrists and therapists who work with children might be encouraged, through their professional organizations, to introduce the topic of alcohol consumption following a discussion of the Harry Potter books. Since many parents have read the books, clinicians can encourage them to talk to their children about the descriptions of alcohol consumption and related behaviors in the Harry Potter books. Schools might also use the Harry Potter series to engage children in a discussion of underage drinking. 22 references