Underage Drinking

1558 Words4 Pages

Introduction According to Windle et al. (2009) adolescents between the ages of 10 and 15 are beginning to consume alcohol. Adolescents are going through puberty at this stage. This means that they are experiencing greater emotional mood swings, greater emotions when dealing with emotional events, and tend to break more rules and exhibit rule breaking behaviors (Windle, et al., 2009). 19.5 percent of 8th graders and 42.1 percent of 10th graders reported having been drunk in their lifetime (Windle, et al., 2009). It is said that the adolescents that consistently drink through this period of time are more likely to have a harder time transitioning into adulthood (Zhong, et al., 2010). Eighth graders have a stronger disapproval for alcohol than their older counterparts in 10th grade, 51.2 percent to 38.5 percent (Windle, et al., 2009). “Approximately 57.2 percent of 8th graders and 53.3 percent of 10th graders rated five or more drinks of alcohol once or twice each weekend as a “great risk” for harm”(Windle, et al., 2009). Early alcohol use by adolescents is associated with suicidal behaviors that include ideations, attempts, and completion. Early alcohol use is also associated with engaging in sexual behaviors. Underage drinking activity is not only hurting adolescents. It also affects the world around them such as their families, friends and community. Why is underage drinking occurring? What is the reasoning behind their starting to drink at such an early age? Childhood experiences, parents, peers and the media have more effect on underage drinking than people may think. Childhood Experiences Our childhood makes up who we are today. Childhood experiences can deeply affect our behaviors and curiosity for alcohol at a young age. ... ... middle of paper ... ... and Underage Drinking. Substance Use & Misuse. Vol. 44 Issue 2, p179-194, 16p, 4 Charts Ward, B. M., & Snow, P. C. (2011). Factors affecting parental supply of alcohol to underage adolescents. Drug & Alcohol Review. 30 (4): 338-43. Wechsler, H., Lee JE., Nelson, TF,.& Kuo, M. (2002). Underage college students' drinking behavior, access to alcohol, and the influence of deterrence policies: findings from the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study. Journal of American College Health. 50 (5): 223-36. (30 ref) Windle, M., Spear, L. P., Fuligni, A. J., Angold, A., Brown, J. D., Pine, D., et al. (2009). Transitions into Underage and Problem Drinking. Drug & Alcohol Review. 30 (4): 338-43. Zhong, H., & Schwartz, J. (2010). Exploring Gender-Specific Trends in Underage Drinking Across Adolescent Age. Journal of Youth & Adolescence. 39 (8): 911-26. (49 ref)

The Consequences of Lowering the Legal Age for Consumption of Alcohol
604 Words | 2 Pages
According to Center for Disease Control and Protection, about 4,700 people under age twenty one die from injuries involving underage drinking every year. Illegal alcohol consumption has been a major problem with high school students around the nation. Lowering the drinking age from twenty one would result in major consequences for America’s adolescents. By lowering the drinking age, alcohol would be more accessible to those who choose to participate in underage drinking. The desire to drink for teens and young adults between the ages of fourteen and twenty can be caused by peer pressure or an act of rebellion. One beer might not seem like a big deal at the time, but it could lead to a life of addiction and alcoholism.
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Robert Kegen's Awesaw Theory Of Social Maturity: Book Review
2464 Words | 5 Pages
Drugs are always a very controversial topic because they inhibit the senses and can cause many problems whether or not it is illegal. Recently, there have been changes in the drug policy within the United States bringing about an opportunity to revisit an older policy, the Drinking Age Act of 1984. In a research study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, underage drinking accumulates for about $22.5 billion or 17.5% of the money spent paying for alcohol in the United States. In 2006, 72.2% of twelfth graders admitted to drinking alcohol at some point in their lives.(Joseph Califano Jr, National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University website) Twelfth grade is a major point in teenagers lives within
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Underage Drinking: Enforcing The Drinking Age
1155 Words | 3 Pages
For decades, certain people have been contemplating on how to go about the issue of underage drinking; people of the government, parents, and other individuals concerned in global affairs. The problem is, the issue of underage drinking and the nationwide ineffectiveness of the drinking age law of twenty-one isn't debated and discussed as much and as aggressively as it should be. And the main components of discussion ought to be the matter of binge drinking among teenagers and college students, drinking issues and statistics in foreign countries, and finally, possible solutions for this problem. The main point is that the states of our country can only attempt to enforce the law rather than try approaching the problem in any other way. So for that reason, states should be allowed to figure out and experiment on possible ways to solve this matter on their own without government interference.
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Lowering the Drinking Age to 18
2613 Words | 6 Pages
There has been an ongoing controversy in the United States on whether the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen like most of the world or if it should stay at twenty-one. Underage drinking has been a major controversial issue for years, yet why is it not under control? Teenagers are continuing to buy alcohol with fake identification cards, drink, get into bars, and drink illegally. As a teen I have proof that these things are going on not only in college but in high school as well. There are a lot of factors that come together to why the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen; the most obvious reason is too many people are drinking before they are twenty-one. Liquor stores, bars, and clubs all want to make money and if they can get away with selling to underage teens then they will. A study done by the Academic Search Premier agrees that, ?By now it is obvious that the law has not succeeded in preventing the under-21 group from drinking? (Michael Smith 1).
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The Drinking Age Should Not Be Lowered
1712 Words | 4 Pages
Main, Carla T. “Underage Drinking and the Drinking Age.” Policy Review. June/July 2009: 33-46. Wilson OmniFile Full Text Mega Edition. Web. 3 Mar. 2010.
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Debating the Minimum Legal Drinking Age
1610 Words | 4 Pages
Engs,Professor at Indiana University has been studying the topic of lowering the legal drinking age for the past twenty years. He has found that “a majority of the college students under this age consume alcohol but in an irresponsible manner. This is because drinking by these youth is seen as an enticing “forbidden fruit” (Why the drinking age should be lowered,1). This is not the first time that this policy has been discussed. During the National Prohibition in the 1920s these laws made every state change their MLDA to 21 years old. But these laws were repealed because they were unenforceable and caused other social problems. Facts show that young adult underage are more likely to be “binge” drinkers. 32% of heavy drinkers were underage while only 24% were of legal age (Why the drinking age should be lowered, 1). Research from the 1980s reveal that there has been a decrease in drinking and drinking among students before the law that made every states MLDA 21 years old. But many other factors may have decreased this rate. “There has been an increase in other problems related to heavy and irresponsible drinking among college age youth. Most of these reported behaviors showed little change until after the 21 year old law in 1987. For example from 1982 until 1987 about 46% of students reported "vomiting after drinking." This jumped to over 50% after the law change. Significant increase were also found for other variables: "cutting class after drinking" jumped from 9%
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Teen Drinking
985 Words | 2 Pages
The article "Alcohol Abuse is a Serious Problem for Teenagers," was written by the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The article states, "Nearly four million young people suffer from alcohol dependence," and the average age at which children begin to drink is as early as 13. The article goes on to say that the number of children who experiment with alcohol has been rising steadily over the years. The article points out the unfortunate effects of drinking which range from an array of physical illnesses like liver problems and cancer. From the article we learn that because teenagers tend to indulge in binge drinking, they are at higher risk to suffer the consequences of alcohol consumption. According to the article these consequences include developmental problems like lack of growth, a reduced ability to learn, and to psychological problems like depression and suicidal tendencies. Alcohol abuse in turn leads to social problems which include dropping out of school, robbery, and "risky sexual behavior." We learn that alcohol serves as a "gateway-drug," leading to more addictive drugs like cocaine. The article substantiates this claim by citing a study conducted by the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. The article also touches on the problem of alcohol used by parents though the primary focus of this piece is about teenage drinking. The purpose of the article is to jolt readers into an awareness of the magnitude of the problem of teenage drinkiing. Most people know that teenagers like to experiment, try the new and forbidden, but the Center assumes that no one is fully aware of how serious this problem can be if it is not addressed.
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Underage Drinking
322 Words | 1 Pages
Many teens face adult problems at a very young age. Underage drinking viewed in the eyes of parents and law enforcement agencies is a major problem among teen. In today society, kids are being pressured into doing things at a very young adolescent age. Problem many parents are facing in their own life are also posing as problems on their kids.
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Teen Peer Pressure Causes Drinking and Driving
707 Words | 2 Pages
There are an estimated 3.3 million teen-age alcoholics in the United States. Adolescents who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcoholism than those who begin drinking at age 21. Youth who drink alcohol are five times more likely to smoke cigarettes, four times more likely to smoke marijuana, and three times more likely to use an illicit drug. Teens that use alcohol tend to become sexually active at earlier ages. Teens who use alcohol are more likely to be victims of violent crimes such as aggravated assault, robbery or rape.
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The Effects Of Underage Drinking On Underage Drinkers
1560 Words | 4 Pages
“According to the U.S Surgeon General, about 5,000 kids under 21 die every year as a result of underage drinking—from crashes, homicides, and suicides” (Bellenir 65). Reducing underage drinking can reduce drinking-related harm, and even though there are programs in place to help prevent these suicides, alcoholism continues to ruin the lives of underage drinkers. Alcoholics in general are walking billboards to major companies that advertise their products—especially underage drinkers that in the process make these companies wealthier. Alcohol abuse gives a false sense of security, self confidence, and maturity to underage drinkers that later commit crimes, violence, and are victims of homicides. Underage drinkers not being able to get back on their feet after falling in so deep into alcoholism, eventually hit rock bottom and wake up to a world they no longer belong to. Underage drinkers realizing that the turning point is far from close commit suicide.
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The Consequences And Effects Of Teenage Drunk Driving
1110 Words | 3 Pages
Alcoholism comes with many problems and consequences that are dangerous for young teens. In America the average age for a girl’s first drink is thirteen, and for a boy it’s eleven. Young teens that drink are more likely to do with or
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Underage Drinking Research Paper
721 Words | 2 Pages
A lot of the time, teens think it is ‘cool’ to drink because everyone else does it. Almost every television show that young people watch have some underage substance abuse, leading adolescents to believe that it can’t be that bad. While society plays a big part in this huge problem, both teens and parents need to learn that there can be severe consequences from as little as one drink. Allowing them to think this kind of behavior is acceptable will haunt them for the rest of their lives, even if they are not alcohol related. Believing that such behavior is acceptable now will lead them to bad decision-making skills in the future when faced with an ethical decision. Teens need to know the major effects can come from underage drinking before going to that party or when being pressured into something they may not be willing to participate in. It is obvious that the long and short-term effects of alcohol abuse can be easily avoided by getting educated and thinking before engaging in any self-destructive
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Don't lower the drinking Age
1218 Words | 3 Pages
Smith, Karen. “Alcohol Use by youth and Adolescents: A Pediatric Concern.” Pediatric American Academy of Pediatrics. 12 April, 2010. Web. 26 March, 2014. .
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Pros And Cons Of Underage Drinking
451 Words | 1 Pages
Thinking of a topic is a bit difficult for me because there were so many different topics to choose all of them relating to bad choices that children make. I chose the one that related most to me. I chose underage drinking because it is happening all around us. I am interested in this topic because on the news most weeks we hear about drinking alcohol leading to bad choices and most of time it is underage drinkers. In liquor stores on the wall it shows all of the fake ID’s been suspended from underage teens and been up on the wall of shame. When I started thinking deeper about this topic I was wondering why the teens want to drink? Was it because it looked cool? Or people were pressuring them? I also thought how did they get the alcohol? And
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Argumentative Essay On Underage Drinking
824 Words | 2 Pages
As a result of underage drinking, 5,000 adolescents under the age of 21 die annually due to intoxication (taking motor vehicle crashes, homicides, suicides, and other injuries while intoxicated into consideration) (paragraph 2). Later in life, underage drinkers are more likely to develop alcoholism, poor performance in school, and risky sexual behavior (paragraph 43). Although this research is not opposed to my argument, there is an importance to acknowledging it as proof of dangerous, underage drinking occurring significantly regardless of whether it is illegal. More importantly, this research stems from adolescents drinking without the supervision of adults and in uncontrolled quantities. Since adolescents must wait a long period of time to drink legally, I believe they fear they must take advantage of drinking opportunities by excess drinking and risk of safety due to their restriction to alcohol. Based on this mindset, I believe exposure to alcohol at a younger age in controlled environments would not only decrease underage drinking in large quantities, but injury and death related to intoxication, as
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Underage Drinking

The Consequences of Lowering the Legal Age for Consumption of Alcohol

Robert Kegen's Awesaw Theory Of Social Maturity: Book Review