Brought to you by BAPC and the Windham County Prevention Partnership
Originally published in the Brattleboro Reformer
Dec. 20, 2025 — Many of us look forward to celebrating the holiday season and connecting with family, friends and loved ones. But in reality, we know human connection can be complex. Coping with loneliness, anxiety and social gatherings is not the same for everyone.
The past several years have brought many new developments in how we individually connect and cope with challenges, especially for youth, who, since the pandemic, have found alternative ways to find support, community and connect with others, both online and off.
The result? Fewer young people are reaching for alcohol. With the sober-curious movement, there’s a renewed commitment to health-conscious goals and a nationwide rise in the availability and consumption of mocktails.
Southern Vermont has joined in the trend, with many restaurants offering a tantalizing selection of alcohol-free drinks. Windham County high schoolers have reported a marked decline in underage drinking: Statewide, 76 percent of high schoolers say they do not drink at all, according to the latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
Despite the good news, youth still need our support. A key development to watch is how young people often cope and connect through screens rather than in person. This can mean less opportunity for youth to drink alcohol while socializing, but also may lead to cyberbullying, self-esteem issues, isolation and risky behavior. Increased exposure to online ads and influencer culture can also impact youth, which may lead to alcohol misuse in the attempt to connect or cope. In short, the terrain has shifted enormously, but real risks remain.
One cause for celebration is that alcohol use among high school students in Windham County has fallen from 37 percent in 2013 to 24 percent in 2023, the latest period when data was collected. A double-digit percentage point drop shows great progress.
Youth were asked to self-report alcohol use over the previous 30 days. Binge drinking among young people in Windham County dropped, from 23 percent in 2013 to 13 percent in 2023.
Yet there’s still work to be done. Local and national research point to a concerning trend: a rise in “poly-use,” where young people report using two or more substances within the past 30 days. Also approximately 6 percent of Windham County high schoolers reported driving under the influence in the prior 30 days, with 21 percent saying they had ridden in a car with a driver who had been drinking, according to the 2023 data.
In addition, youth continue to say they have easy access to alcohol. In Windham County, 63 percent of youth said they had ease of access, according to the data. That’s down from 77 percent in 2013, but leaves room for improvement.
This holiday season, parents, guardians, and other adults can help youth stay safe by talking to them, setting expectations, tracking access to alcohol, and, very importantly, securing alcohol supplies at home. Evidence shows any drinking before the age of 25 can affect brain development and increase the likelihood of alcohol use disorders. For best results, check out Windham County Prevention Partnership’s (WCPP) tips on how to help youth.
When adults engage in open and nonjudgmental conversations around drinking, setting expectations while also modeling safe drinking habits, evidence shows it has a big impact on youth. “Youth watch how the adults in their lives handle stress and celebration,” says Cassandra Holloway, director of Building a Positive Community, a member of WCPP. “Parents, mentors and family members can offer powerful guidance by being mindful of the messages their alcohol use sends.”
WCPP comprises three prevention coalitions in Windham County (Building a Positive Community, Deerfield Valley Community Partnership and West River Valley Thrives) and community partners working to promote wellness and prevent the use/misuse of substances, primarily by youth and young adults in Windham County. For more information, go to windhampartnership.com.