SWAP Access to Social Sciences Blog: How Iceland persuaded teens to give up drink and drugs

Wednesday 15 November 2017

How Iceland persuaded teens to give up drink and drugs

Iceland used to have a big teenage smoking, drinking and drug problem. Now it doesn't.

This is how it made the change. Let me know your thoughts.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/stories-41973296/how-one-country-persuaded-teens-to-give-up-drink-and-drugs

3 comments:

Laura MacDonald15 November 2017 at 12:33
Well I'd love to reduce teen drinking and smoking to these levels and less I disagree with the majority of this approach, the exception being the massive investment in activities and centres for young people.

I don't think it is for the state to dictate a curfew for anyone. Most sensible parents would impose a reasonable age appropriate curfew on their kids and I think it's entirety up to the parents to decide what that curfew should be. I know in the summer our teenagers are often out very late, as I was when I was young, thanks to our very light nights in the uk. Admittedly they are very nearby but for the state to sweep in and tell parents they can no longer allow that is unacceptable to me.

I also think it's hard to draw direct comparisons with this and the U.K. As far as I'm aware Iceland has low unemployment, one of the best female employment rates in the world and a highly rated education system therefore their social problems are likely very different.

Parents in Iceland likely have good education themselves with generally less poverty, addiction and reliance on welfare to survive and are likely to set good examples for their young.

If Scotland wants to achieve this it needs to tackle the root causes of these behaviours. I disagree the answer is ever restricting young people's Liberty. Children need investment and good role models, not a state that dictates how children should be raised
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Kirsty B15 November 2017 at 20:49
Wow! That video was fab- didn't seem realistic though- I think your right Laura we have a long way to go before we could attempt to go down
That route in this country! We struggle to gett our teenagers to go to school never mind behave and come home early!! Think this is a very distant dream for Britain!! I really wish it could be enforced for my little boys sake! Dread to think what teens will be up too when he's old enough!!!
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Mark Hetherington17 November 2017 at 10:11
Keep the comments coming. Some strong feedback so far, which I welcome.
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