Making Smart Choices

The pressure to fit in with your peers can sometimes cause you to make decisions you later regret. Thinking about how you will react before a situation occurs may help you make smarter decisions when it does happen. Consider the following scenarios. What would you say if you were the characters in the stories? What would you do to remove yourself from a potentially harmful situation?

1. Susan and José are at a party with older teens. Some of the people at the party are drinking.

The second scene of the comic book illustration number 1 shows an older boy talking to Susan and Jose at the party. The older boy says, “Do you guys want a beer?” Jose replies, “I’ll have one!” Susan says, “I don’t know…” Two questions are written at the bottom of the illustration: What would you do if you were Susan? How would you explain your decision to Jose?

On a separate sheet of paper, explain: What would you do if you were Susan? How would you explain your decision to José?

2. Mark and Sally are waiting for Sally’s older brother to pick them up.

The first scene of a comic book illustration number 2 shows a car in front of a movie theater. A boy named Mark and a girl named Sally are about to get into the car. Sally’s older brother is driving the car. Sally says to her brother, “Are we going straight home?” Her older brother replies, “No, I thought you guys might want to head to a little party.” The second scene of the comic book illustration shows Sally sitting in the car with her brother. Mark is standing at the door to the car. Sally says to Mark, “That sounds like fun. Are you coming, Mark?” Mark replies, “I don’t know…” A question at the bottom of the illustration says: What would you do if you were Mark?

On a separate sheet of paper, explain: What would you do if you were Mark?

Take It Further!

What are some other scenarios that you might encounter that involve alcohol?
Brainstorm ways in which you might respond in each of those cases.

Download the PDF