The reality we refuse to accept
In my previous blog posts I have talked about the problems associated with underage drinking. I want to change the perspective this week by discussing WHY teenagers decide to drink even though they are not legally allowed to. Discovering the reasons behind this huge issue might help me in my proposal by targeting the main causes that lead to teenage alcohol abuse.
In a recent study conducted by the Century Council, 41% of teens say they drink to have a good time, 30% drink to celebrate, 28% say they drink to get drunk, 24% say they drink to feel good, and 21% drink in order to de-stress or relax. Although these are some of the main reasons as to why adolescents choose to drink, there are a variety of other influences that contribute to underage drinking.
According to an article published by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, adolescents experiment with alcohol at a young age because they see it as a thrill. Drinking, for them, is a thrill ride that they have to try. Teenagers that drink at a young age do so because they view alcohol as a pleasant experience. They might hear from their peers, parents, or from the media about the different effects that alcohol can have on your body while drinking it. To them, alcohol can make you feel happy, sociable, and free from your everyday problems. The article also stated that hereditary factors add to the many reasons of why kids drink. According to their data, children of alcoholics are between four and ten times more likely to become alcoholics themselves than are children who have no close relatives with alcoholism. Basically, children who are raised by alcoholics are more likely to drink at an early age. Other factors that cause teens to drink include having friends who drink, not talking with your parents about the risks of underage drinking, and the media’s influence on underage alcohol abuse. Peer pressure is one of the main factors that influence teens to drink. According to Psych Central,Paypal Summary 309 On At We O Dear Preview Hide Have intlpaypalcom Support Activity You Our Notice Limit Customer Pm Today Service Fwd Costumers - From Detected gt; Accou And Team Receipt Account Unusual To Your adolescents with friends that drink alcohol are twice as likely to drink at an early age as well.
As I have discussed in this blog post, there are several reasons that explain why teenagers drink. Many of the reasons relate to the effects that alcohol has on the body, the natural “buzz” feeling that you get after consuming it. I think that I can use this in my proposal by further explaining to the teenagers in our community what alcohol actually does to your body after an extended period of use. I will also incorporate the effects that occur when the alcohol leaves your system; which is what we call a hangover. I really do believe that, through proper education in middle and high school, children can become fully aware of the reality behind underage alcohol consumption before they even try it.
Amy,
I really enjoyed your blog post because I felt as though the findings and your commentary was very accurate as to why teenagers choose to drink underage. Another factor that you may want to look into is the infatuation that teenagers have with being able to do something that they are technically not supposed to be doing because they are not of legal age. It may be interesting to compare other activities that teenagers engage in at a young age because they are forbidden to do so by law but they feel as though it makes them “cooler” if they are doing it because it is illegal. Overall, your blog post was very insightful and can definitely be used in your argument as to why teens engage in underage drinking.
I can agree that peer pressure is a huge factor. I feel most teenagers drink alcohol to be “cool”. I also think that media is a huge contributor. Media has been putting out the wrong messages for years. I think parents have a huge role in whether or not their children drink. I want to know what other things can be done to stop underage drinking because it is a huge issue.
I feel that educating young teens about alcohol is the right way to go. I also believe what we teach them is important. I have seen far too many people not know “how” to drink and end up throwing their guts up for hours and even have alcohol posioning. I think it is important to teach teenagers how to drink in moderation, how to have a good time without blacking out, and how to make responsible choices when they drink. Many disagree with me because it is illegal to drink underage, but let’s be realistic. It’s like the people who believe we should teach “abstinence is the only way” to high schoolers; it doesn’t work.