The consumption of alcohol has been on the rise as society has become more desensitized to drinking for the purpose of getting drunk. Unfortunately this epidemic is not only affecting adults, but it is filtering into young adults, teenagers, and even young children. Underage drinking has always been an issue in society but with the popularity of the act in media, more and more children and teens are beginning to partake in this dangerous activity. Not only is underage drinking illegal, but it can also start an incredibly detrimental trend that will inevitably lead to many medical ailments.
The General Statistics of Underage Drinking
Considering that underage drinking is such a widespread behavior, it is difficult to determine how many people under the age of 21 participate in this act. Researchers have determined that children aged 12-20 consume over 11% of the alcohol in the United States and over 90% of the alcohol is consumed by binge drinking.
The Widespread Nature of Underage Drinking
As previously mentioned, this particular illegal activity is essentially sweeping the nation by storm as more and more people are beginning to drink alcohol under the required age. In the year 2009, over 10.4 million individuals aged between 12 and 20 had more than a “few sips” of alcohol. This statistic rose to over 70% for individuals 18 years of age and younger. The reason as to why these statistics are so troublesome is because when younger people drink, they have the tendency to participate in binge drinking. Binge drinking can be classified as having 5 or more drinks in one sitting.
Defining Underage Drinking
Underage drinking can be defined as any individual under the legal drinking age participating in the consumption of alcohol, whether it be an entire bottle of beer or a sip of an alcoholic beverage. Depending on the country that you live in, the legal age for drinking may differ. As an example, adults over the age of 21 are allowed to legally consume alcohol in the United States, whereas individuals under the age of 19 are not allowed to drink legally in Canada. Regardless, the overconsumption of alcohol can be quite dangerous whether you are under or over the required legal age for consuming alcohol.
The Risks Associated with Underage Drinking
There are a variety of different risks associated with underage drinking, whether they are social or physical risks. It is important to prevent underage drinking for the following reasons:
The Potential for Death: There are dozens of injuries that are a direct result of drinking and they result in fatal consequences for underage drinkers. Over 5000 people under the age of 21 die from different fatalities such as suicides, alcohol poisoning, falls, drowning, or car crashes as a direct result of the consumption of alcohol on a yearly basis.
Incurring Injuries: As previously mentioned, injuries are one of the most common issues as a result of ingesting alcohol. In the year 2008, over 190,000 people under the age of 21 visited the hospital to receive treatment for injuries as a result of underage drinking. Fortunately they did not suffer a fatal accident, but there was a high potential of death.
Impairing Judgement: Alcohol can make everyone make poor decisions but with the combination of alcohol and hormones, people under the age of 21 are prone to experienced more impaired judgement than older drinkers. Impaired judgement can result in pregnancies, risky behavior, and violence, all of which are incredibly dangerous to the individual and the people around them.
Physical and Sexual Assault: With the loss of inhibitions, consuming alcohol at a young age can put people in a position to where they are more likely to experience sexual assault and physical assault. There are many predators in the world and they like to prey on people while they are at their weakest. Without the ability to make practical decisions, underage drinkers are more prone to either commit assault or be a victim of it.
Brain Development: One of the largest physical dangers associated with underage drinking is preventing the brain from developing properly. There have been several studies that prove that a human’s brain continues to develop into their late twenties. With that being said, the consumption of alcohol before the age of 21 can affect the development of the brain and bring forth mental issues.
How to Spot Underage Drinking
Much like the use of drugs, there are several different factors that should be noted in order to determine whether someone is participating in underage drinking. It is important to pay close attention to these signs of warning to help the individual avoid such risky behavior. Some of the indicators include:
• Academic and behavior issues at home and at school.
• Less interest in their appearance and extra-curricular activities.
• Memory and concentration problems.
• Finding alcohol amongst the belongings of a young person.