I walked into the house where the "party of the century" was going to be held. I was psyched to be going. At the time I was a little naive freshman invited to my first official high school party at a senior’s house. I was at the party no more than 30 minutes when this boy offered me a drink. Thinking nothing of it, I agreed. He brought back a half-filled cup.
Before I took a sip, I recognized a familiar smell, one I really couldn’t my finger on. It wasn’t Pepsi and I knew it wasn’t Sprite. Then it hit me, I was being offered alcohol. I was only a freshman, and I was being offered a glass of alcohol. My first glass of alcohol. I could not believe it.
Was this what growing up meant? Being able to drink and do exactly what my parents and teachers had been telling me not to do for as long as I could remember? I looked around the room, and saw other people drinking the same stuff, then I saw them stumbling around, and some were in the corner puking. This never happens to the people on the beer commercials on TV, why should it happen to these kids?
As I saw these people, my peers, the truth finally hit me, alcohol isn’t for teenagers, no matter what the commercials say. Not only does alcohol make you look ridiculous, it’s illegal for people my age to be drinking. In a survey conducted by the Associated Press in 1998, almost half of the American teenagers were drinkers. This same substance I had been told to refuse my entire childhood was being consumed by nearly half of my peers. According to that same survey, nearly 9 out of 10 teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 years of age had their first alcoholic beverage after their 11th birthday. At this point, was I suppose to become a statistic or be that one out of ten people who doesn’t use alcohol?
In D.A.R.E., the drug education program children are taught up until they enter high school, they always tell you to “Just Say No”, but I bet they have no clue what goes through the mind of naive teenagers who see all of their peers having a “great time” while they try to be the good kid and refuse.
In this essay, the author
- Describes how they were psyched to be invited to the 'party of the century' when a naive freshman invited them to their first official high school party. thinking nothing of it, they agreed.
- Narrates how they recognized a familiar smell, which was not pepsi, and knew it wasn't sprite. then it hit them, when they were offered alcohol.
- Explains that growing up meant being able to drink and do exactly what their parents and teachers had been telling them not to do for as long as they could remember.
- Opines that alcohol isn't for teenagers, no matter what commercials say. in a 1998 associated press survey, almost half of the american teens were drinkers, and nearly 9 out of 10 teens had their first alcoholic beverage after their 11th birthday.
- Opines that helping teenagers say no against peer pressure is an obvious solution. alcohol impairs judgement, distorts vision, hearing, and coordination, alters perceptions and emotions.
- Recommends eliminating alcohol commercials that show children and young adults that drinking is glorious. they recall seeing a commercial with two beautiful models fighting over which beer would make them skinnier.
- Explains that a kidcom marketing study found the budweiser frogs, penguins and lizards were american children's favorite ads. their parents taught them that drinking was wrong.
- Narrates how they refused the drink in their hand proudly at that party. they were strong enough to "just say no", but worry about some of their friends.
- Opines that it is time to end what we have started and help prepare our future generations to be the best they can be, and still be substance free.
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- Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuseopinion essayIn my generation drinking among underage kids is blamed on peers, accessibility, and adulthood. “Research shows that about 10 million Americans between ages 12 to 20 years had at least one drink last month” (April is Alcohol Awareness Month). Like all addictions, alcohol must first be experimented with. When a kid tries alcohol for the first time s/he will either like it and do it again, or not like it and not try it for a long time. Today’s youth have far more confusing and complex issues to deal with than those youth of earlier generations. Maxwell states that as teenagers engage in the process of trying out new behaviors and values to see what feels right, they must make decisions regarding the use of alcohol and drugs-decisions that often bear serious consequences.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that alcohol is the number one drug problem among america's youth, and that it is a culturally conditioned and socially controlled behavior.
- Explains that drinking among underage kids is blamed on peers, accessibility, and adulthood. like all addictions, alcohol must first be experimented with.
- Opines that if a teen's drinking problem goes unnoticed and isn't dealt with, it can lead to alcoholism, depression, and personality disorders as young adults.
- Explains that rhode and his colleagues evaluated whether teenagers with serious alcohol problems were likely to continue their behavior into adulthood.
- Explains that teenagers face difficult decisions and have many people in their lives that influence them. teenagers use alcohol to be accepted by a group.
- Analyzes how teenagers choose to experiment with alcohol because they know their parents don't approve of it. drinking alcohol is a rite of passage, and in many families, children are taught to look forward to the day
- Opines that parents have the strongest influence over their teen's decision whether or not they choose to drink. parents should not send mixed messages to their children.
- Explains that fake id cards give kids unlimited access to buy alcohol, making them feel more like adults. this generation wants to be taken seriously, so they copy adult behavior.
- Explains that beer companies target kids to buy alcohol through commercials and selling cheap liquor. these ads try to attract heavy drinking through pictures, phrases, or promotions.
- Explains that kids hear about alcohol through music and sporting events. rock music has the biggest impact over any other music when talking about drinking.
- Explains that many college students see drinking as a normal part of the college experience, and that fraternities are linked with drinking problems.
- Explains that binge drinking is the fastest growing concern for high school and college students. it can lead to alcoholism and may cause harm to the individual drinking.
- Explains that drunk driving is the leading cause of death among 15 to 24 year olds. it is irresponsible of the driver and the friends that let that kid drive home.
- Opines that schools should ban the use of alcohol as a way to limit the amount of drinking of students.
- Opines that communities can address the issues that come along with teenage drinking. the local community can limit student access to alcohol and support the local law enforcement.
- Opines that teens need to be aware of the dangers and repercussions that may come along with drinking.
- Explains that alcohol consumption at any age affects intellectual performance, physical health, and social relations. educating kids on the long-term effects of using alcohol may be the reason they don't use it again.
- Opines that prevention, early detection, and timely intervention are vital if our society is to reduce the number of alcohol/related problems. college students must take personal responsibility for making healthy choices with the only lives they will ever have.
- Cites barrows, susanna, and robin room. drinking. los angeles: oxford, 2009.
- Analyzes erenberg, debra, and hacker's "last call". felsted, carla. youth and alcohol abuse. phoenix: oryx, 2012.
- Cites maxwell, ruth, milhorn, thomas h., nelson, roxanne, and rubin, sabrina.
- Analyzes shepard, elizabeth, george dowdall, andrea davenport, and william dejong's "binge drinking on campus".
2426 wordsRead More - Persuasive Essay On Underage Drinkingexplanatory essayMovies and society send a message of acceptance of underage drinking as a rite of passage. The idea of underage drinking must become unacceptable. It will take repeated work over time in education programs , student circles , kids’ lives, homes and schools, on college campuses, and in courts of law as well as in the discussions between congressmen at the white house to make a lasting change in this problem. Prevention of underage drinking must become a priority and a first project for parents, teachers, and all adults. It must be a priority for all and start before a student is a teenager and continue throughout young teen age life. Alcohol is the most widely used substance of abuse among America’s youth. A higher percentage of young people ...
In this essay, the author
- Opines that underage drinking is a serious problem, and it is time to stop it by making it an important priority.
- Opines that it is wrong to allow the social systems in which teens live to decide that teenagers should use alcohol.
- Explains that alcohol increases from grade 8 to grade 12 at over double the usages, while cigarettes and marijuana increase by 5%.
- Explains that many things are considered a drink with alcohol. a drink can come in many forms.
- Explains that underage drinking is illegal and a threat to the health and normal development of children. alcohol is the most widely used substance of abuse among american young people.
- Explains that underage drinking increases death and injury rates 200% between the early teenage years and adult life. preventing teenage alcohol use saves lives.
- Opines that they wish we could stop underage drinking all together. they see a needed change in the way society shows and prompts its influence in tv commercials which show drinking as fun and glamour.
890 wordsRead More - Persuasive Essay Against Underage Drinkinganalytical essayWhen high school graduates go off to college it is a whole new world. Living in a new place with no parents around to tell them what to do. These young adults no longer have curfews and are now responsible for making their own decisions. It’s a big deal becoming an adult, not only because they are in college but also because in the eyes of the United States when a teenager turns eighteen they become a legal adult. With becoming an adult comes many new responsibilities, a person can now vote for the next elected representatives, they can live on their own and pay their own bills; it’s a brand new world for young adults. As a college student, alcohol is a very common occurrence. The minimum legal age to drink in the United States in twenty-one and it has always caused a continuing controversy. Alcohol is everywhere as well as underage drinking and as a college student that has participated in underage drinking, this research is personally
In this essay, the author
- Argues that the united states should lower the legal drinking age to eighteen in order to be evenly matched with other countries.
- Argues that the united states needs to adjust the drinking age to be consistent with other countries around the world.
- Argues that the united states should lower the drinking age to allow young adults to actually be adults.
- Argues that keeping the legal drinking age at twenty-one is "medically irresponsible" because alcohol interferes with the development of the frontal lobes.
- Explains that americans support the current minimum legal drinking age in the united states because of the reduction in traffic violations and drunk driving accidents.
- Argues that the minimum legal drinking age in the united states has always been a controversial issue. many argue keeping the age at twenty-one for it is "medically irresponsible" and reduces drunk driving accidents.
- Explains the importance of addressing the minimum legal drinking age (mlda).
- Narrates daniloff, caleb, "drinking: 18 vs. 21 | bu today | boston university."
- Explains the 15 reasons why drinking age should be 18 on cognac.com.
- Opines that the u.s. should lower its drinking age.
- Explains hanson, david j., prof. "minimum legal drinking ages around the world."
- Analyzes how reynolds, glenn h., "old enough to fight, old en enough to drink." wsj. n.p.
- States strickland, kasie, "should the drinking age be 18?" pickens sentinel, 24 sept. 2014.
- Explains wagenaar, alexander, and traci toomey, "effects of minimum drinking age laws: review and anases of the literature from 1960 to 2000."
- Analyzes wallace, amy e., atticus wallace and william b. weeks' "the u.s. military as a natural experiment: changes in drinking age, military environment, and later alcohol treatment episodes among veterans."
1705 wordsRead More - The Perils of Underage Drinkingopinion essayEvery teen chooses to drink for a different reason whether it be depression or peer pressure. no matter what reason they may choose it is still deadly and dangerous. It doesn't help that some teens parents are willing to contribute to underaged drinking by buying their teen and their friends alchol. Sally and John’s reason for drinking are unknown. Little did they realize that they were about to become just another statistic on another website. When they chose to leave the party and drive home drunk they now only put their lives in danger but everyone elses on the roads that night. Each year around 16,000 people are killed in alcohol related crashes. Around 5000 of them are teenagers. Thats a high percentage when you break it down and think about it Statistics also show that people who start drinking before the age of fifteen are ...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that underage drinking is a big problem in the united states. by the age of 13 over 50% of teens had tried alcohol in their lifetime.
- Explains that every teen chooses to drink for a different reason, whether it be depression or peer pressure, but it is still deadly and dangerous. sally and john's reason for drinking are unknown.
- Analyzes how sally and john's intoxication levels were three times the legal limit of someone of age. they didn't think about the consequences that could come from their drunk driving.
- Opines that events like sally and johns can be prevented. 5000 teens don't need to die every year. there are many options that could help prevent accidents like this.
- Opines that children need to be talked to about the consequences of drinking at a younger age. they should give examples of what has happened to other teens like sally and john.
- Opines that preventing underage drinking needs to start in the home, but schools can do their part in helping prevent it.
- Explains that programs like big brother big sisters could include all children, showing them what being a good person is. this type of program would lead them to be better teens when they are older.
- Explains that parents can help programs like big brothers, big sister be effective by putting their children in different extra curricular activities, such as leadership programs and athletics.
- Opines that one of the biggest solutions to this problem is making a much bigger offense when someone is caught drinking underage.
- Opines that adults and the government need to put a little more effort into preventing underaged drinking, even if some of the solutions mentioned saved only three lives.
- Cites botvin, g.j., griffin, k.w. and diaz, t. preventing illicit drug use in adolescents: long-term follow-up data from a randomized control trial
- Describes the risk and protective factors for alcohol and other drug problems in adolescence and early adulthood: implications for substance abuse prevention.
- States the results of the 2005 national survey on drug use and health: national findings.
1016 wordsRead More - Essay On Lowering The Drinking Ageanalytical essayAlcohol is accessible to almost anyone, even teens. Teen's main source of getting alcohol is through their friends or even family members. (“What Youth Say”). People drink for all the same reasons. They drink to relieve stress, for the after effect, out of curiosity, or even due to peer pressure. (“Why Do Peop...
In this essay, the author
- Argues that the legal drinking age should be lowered to eighteen because children are expected to become more mature at an earlier age.
- Explains that the prohibition act in the 1920s was initially utilized to ban drinking in america, but all that resulted was an increase affinity for alcohol.
- Explains that alcohol is accessible to almost anyone, even teens. they drink to relieve stress, for the after effect, out of curiosity, or even due to peer pressure.
- Explains that teens will continue to consume alcohol and will find ways through family members or friends. at the age of eighteen the person is now considered to be a legal adult.
- Explains that excessive drinking can lead to alcohol poisoning. underage students don't know when they will be able to drink again.
- Argues that lowering the drinking age would allow young adults to drink in restricted areas rather than sneaking out and increasing their chances of getting hurt.
- Explains that alcohol consumption has contributed to many deaths, including 4,3000 deaths among underage youth, and thousands of cases of drinking and driving that have led to deaths.
- Explains that lowering the drinking age would come with added education on the effects and if educated, students would be less likely to use it irresponsibly. parents influence plays a huge role on their child’s behavior and need to educate them so that they may understand the dangers of drinking and consequences.
- Explains that an 18-year-old in us has the right to vote, and serve in the military. they explain that students are sent to iraq willing to fight and risk their lives.
- Argues that the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen because teenagers are considered young adults and can drink in restricted controlled areas rather than sneaking out.
1048 wordsRead More - Lowering the Drinking Age to 18opinion essaywere drinking to get drunk than their counterparts a decade earlier, and one recent study reported an increase, just since 1994, in the number of students who drink deliberately to get drunk? (Smith 1). I interviewed my friend Shelly Mitchell who recently turned twenty-one and asked her how she felt about finally being legal to drink. She quoted, ?It is not as exciting to drink anymore, I mean I still like to go out with my friends to bars, but the fun is all over, in high school and college it was so exciting trying to get alcohol by using a fake ID.? All of these factors could be changed by lowering the drinking age to eighteen. In a study done by the Harvard School of Public Health, binge drinking is defined as five drinks in a row for boys and four drinks for girls. And when they did a survey they found that 44% of the students attending Harvard binge drink (Jeffrey Kluger 1).
In this essay, the author
- Argues that improving education on the effects of drinking and having open discussions on alcohol would benefit everyone.
- Opines that teenagers are being forced to be secretive and sometimes make things very dangerous. the drinking age of twenty-one has driven student partying to less public, and thus more dangerous venues.
- Quotes michael smith's article, 'treat students as adults: set the drinking age at eighteen, not twenty-one.'
- Explains that in europe, drinking is a social aspect of life, but in the united states, it's legal to go to the pub with your parents at the age of 15 and 18 when you're alone.
- Opines that liquor stores are selling to underage teens, citing a survey done by anne wagner in 2001.
- Explains that the twenty-one year drinking age has not reduced drinking on campuses, but it has probably increased it.
- Opines that college-age kids could get their act together politically, but the issue has not come up for a long time. wisconsin attorney general jim doyle favors lowering the legal drinking age to nineteen if the age was adopted nationally.
- Argues that the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen, citing a study done by the harvard school of public health.
- Opines that the minimum legal drinking age should be set at eighteen, not twenty-one, since underage drinking is not being controlled in every state.
2613 wordsRead More - Unbderage Drinkingexplanatory essayThe age when young people are taking their first drink is becoming lower each year. Many studies report that preteens are experimenting with alcohol and many are already heavy drinkers. Three of every ten junior and senior high school student can be defined as problem drinkers (Peacock 63). It may be difficult for parents and teachers to believe that a seventh-grade student can have an alcohol problem, but a study of student drinking practices shows that 5% of seventh-grade boys and 4.4% of seventh-grade girls are seriously abusing alcohol (Peacock 65). The largest increase in drinking for boys occurs between 7th and 8th grade. For girls: between 8th and 9th grade (Bender 49). Nearly 28% of all high school stu...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that underage drinking has become a big issue in the united states. teens are using fake id’s to get their alcohol or even asking adults to purchase it for them.
- Explains that preteens are experimenting with alcohol and many are already heavy drinkers. a study of student drinking practices shows that 5% of seventh-grade boys are seriously abusing alcohol.
- Explains that in the united states teenage drinking has become a major problem, with about 3.3 million teens as problem drinkers.
- Explains that excessive drinking can lead to teenage alcoholism. people who begin drinking at the age of 15 are four-times more likely to develop it.
- Explains that president reagan signed the national minimum drinking age act into law on july 17, 1984. the act encourages states to have laws prohibiting the purchase and public possession of alcoholic beverages by anyone under 21 years of age.
- Explains that a recent survey found that more than 50% of the teenagers studied did not know that beer is intoxicating as mineral spirits.
- Explains that binge drinking is rated the number one health risk to teens in the united states, but most teens did not know that “bingeing” could lead to alcoholism.
- Opines that drinking is a result of peer pressure, and that students with poor grades may turn to alcohol to get out of it.
- Explains that an average of 56 teens die each year in the western united states alone as a result of drinking. it is common at parties to pick on the people who are passed out and play games with them.
- Opines that alcohol will be the leading drug of choice for teenagers because it is the main source of a party and is easy to get hold of.
933 wordsRead More - Alcohol And Drinking Essayexplanatory essayAlcohol & Drinking Alcohol is a drink that changes people mood in a legal way in most countries. It is a drink that makes the brain not function normally when a person over drinks. Alcohol has many bad effects on our life, and health. On the other hand, it can be used in useful uses such as the medical wipes but it must be used in limited and known quantity. I consider drinking alcohol as an issue because many people were killed in different ways by a drunken person.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that alcohol changes people's mood in a legal way in most countries. it has many bad effects on our life, and health.
- Explains that drinking alcohol can affect the person's health and cause damage to their brine. alcohol can cause difficulty walking, blurred vision, slurred speech and impaired memory.
- Explains that in islamic religion drinking alcohol is forbidden because of the bad effect of alcohol in the personal's health.
- Opines that driving while intoxicated or drunk is dangerous and drivers with high blood alcohol content or concentration are at greatly increased risk of car accidents, highway injuries and vehicular deaths.
- Explains that in 2012, more than three people were killed in drunken driving fatalities for every 100,000 americans. between 1991, when the foundation for advancing alcohol responsibility was founded, and 2012.
- Explains that many organizations around the world are trying to solve the problems that are cased because of alcohol.
- Explains that the police have the right to stop the driver if he was drunk by using different kinds of technology devices, such as the alcohol breath test.
- Opines that the solutions mentioned above are not enough to solve this issue.
- Opines that people who drink alcohol should seriously think about the problems that it causes, and try to drink less. parents are the biggest responsible with this issue.
- Explains that bars have to limit the quantity of alcohol per person so no one over drunk then drives the car to cause an accident.
- Explains that if they have an organization, they will divide it into two sections. the first section will be teaching people about the danger of over drinking alcohol and the second section is for treating addicts.
- Opines that group treatment would be more useful because one of them might have a harmful story to tell so others would affect because of it.
- Explains that their organization will reach to locals by e-mails and the website. they will advertise in the newspaper, magazine, schools, and bars. their goal is to awareness people of the danger of over drinking alcohol.
841 wordsRead More - An Essay About Alcoholismcomparative essayAlcoholism is the intentional abuse of any form of alcohol. The practice of alcoholism is not only dangerous but also very unhealthy for the user. The guide lines that state alcohol abuse would be drinking every day or drinking too much at a time. If you are addicted to alcohol it can cause the breaking off in relationships, job loss, and legal issues. When you abuse alcohol, you continue to drink even though you know your drinking is the problem.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that alcoholism is the intentional abuse of any form of alcohol. it is dangerous and unhealthy for the user.
- Explains that people addicted to alcohol experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking, spend extended periods of time drinking and recovering from drinking (hangover), and continue to drink even though it harms their relationships and causes physical problems.
- Explains that a woman who has more than three drinks in one sitting is considered an alcoholic and should see their doctor for guidance.
- Explains that alcohol abuse can lead to heart disease, liver disease and even cancer. treatments of alcoholism can range from medical attention and prescription medications to treatment centers such as the most know a.a.
- Explains that alcohol and drug addictions can and are often referred to as "substance abuse" or "chemical dependencies." alcoholics and nonalcoholics are encouraged to attend a.a. meetings.
- Explains that most americans over 21 can consume alcohol without becoming addicted, but some can't resist the erg to drink. some people are called alcoholics or chemical dependents.
- Explains that withdrawal symptoms can range from mild and annoying to severe and even life-threatening for heavy or frequent drinkers.
- Explains that alcohol is a depressant to the nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing and the gag reflex.
- Explains that acetaldehyde, a toxic chemical produced by alcohol consumption, can damage the liver.
- Explains that even small amounts of alcohol in use with any form of medication can increase the intensity of the drug and all of its side effects, such as sleepiness, drowsiness and light-headedness, which can lead to serious or in some cases fatal accidents.
- Opines that they have known a few people who have felled sick to alcohol poisoning, but only one of them i knew well. he's been into detox at least four to five times in their life, and his family has had issues.
- Explains that nine million children ages twelve to twenty in the united states have reported that they have consumed alcohol.
- Advises that if you decide to drink alcoholic beverages, do so with responsibility, which is thought to be no more than a drink per day for women. however, there are some people who should not drink alcohol, such as pregnant women, adolescents, and people operating vehicles.
- Concludes that alcoholism is a big problem for children, teens, and adults. alcohol has affected the united states and many other countries too much in the past years.
1296 wordsRead More - alcoholanalytical essayFrom the beginning of its existence alcohol has displayed its many problematic capabilities. With society already plagued by so many issues, surprisingly alcohol consumption among the youth has maintained a priority. During the prohibition era, many efforts were set in stone to try and improve the laws governing the purchase and consumption of alcohol. In 1984 the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was enforced raising the legal drinking age to twenty one. This was done in hopes of lowering the rate of alcohol related vehicular accidents. This would prove to be a tough act to follow as alcohol just so happens to be the drug of choice among the youth. With the arguments growing over whether to lower the drinking age, Americans fear the trickling effects this would have on fam...
In this essay, the author
- Opines that lowering the legal age to purchase alcohol from twenty-one to eighteen would only add to the ever growing problem america already faces with alcohol.
- Explains that alcohol consumption among the youth has maintained a priority during the prohibition era. the national minimum drinking age act was enforced in 1984 to lower the rate of alcohol related vehicular accidents.
- Analyzes how rehm, jurgen, and hingson elaborate on alcohol's impact not only on the consumer but the individuals around him or her.
- Argues that adulthood in america legally starts at the age of 18 and that introducing alcohol can alter its development.
- Explains ellen d. witt's 2010 journal article 'alcohol', describing the medically proven effects alcohol can have on adolescent developing brains.
- Explains that alcohol is the leading drug of choice for america's youth. setting the legal drinking age to twenty-one has helped in keeping alcohol out of the hands of young adults.
- States that susan m. gapstur, phd, mph, gave her thoughts and research findings over the consumption of alcohol and whether it contributes to higher risks for cancer.
- Argues that lowering the legal drinking age would prevent underage drinking since the taboo aspects of it would be no more.
- Argues that raising the legal drinking age for a person to defend their country should also be raised to the age of twenty-one, but that in its own is an argument for another day.
1331 wordsRead More