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Underage Drinking
Maria Chang
Florida National University
Professor: Sonia Troche
Course: Relapse Prevention
Date: February 19th, 2023
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Underage drinking
The consumption of alcohol by minors is both a severe threat to public health and a
persistent issue that dates back millennia. It is considered a normal part of adolescent
development in many communities throughout the world and is generally accepted. On the other
hand, there is a growing body of evidence indicating that drinking alcohol before the age of legal
consent poses a significant risk to the physical and mental health of young people. In this article,
I will explore the risks to a person's physical and mental health that are linked with underage
drinking, as well as the legal ramifications of underage drinking and the ways in which we might
lessen the prevalence of underage drinking.
Underage drinking is associated with a wide variety of risks to one's physical health, and
these dangers can vary from moderate to severe. It just takes a few drinks for someone's motor
skills, cognitive abilities, and judgment to start to suffer when they drink. This can put people in
potentially hazardous circumstances, such as getting into car accidents, falling and drowning, or
getting injured in fights or assaults. In addition, alcohol poisoning is a dangerous condition that
can arise from drinking an excessive amount of alcohol (Harmony Square. 2020). This condition
has the potential to be fatal. An alcohol overdose can result in delayed or even stopped
respiration, irregular heartbeat, decreased body temperature, and possibly coma or death.
Underage drinking has been shown to have a significant negative impact on both physical
and mental health.According to the findings of a number of studies, the risk of a young person
developing an addiction to alcohol is increased by a factor of four for those who begin drinking
before the age of 15, in comparison to those who do not begin drinking until the age of 21
(Harmony Square. 2020). Those who begin drinking before the age of 15 are also more likely to
develop a drinking problem in the future. In addition, alcohol is a depressant, and drinking too
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much of it may lead to depression as well as other issues related to mental health. In addition,
heavy drinking as a teenager may increase a person's risk of having an alcohol use problem as an
adult. This risk is increased when the person continues to drink excessively throughout their
teenage years.
In addition to the potential negative consequences on one's physical and mental health,
consuming alcohol when one is under the age at which they are legally allowed to do so may also
have serious repercussions within the legal system. It is against the law in the United States for
anybody less than 21 years old to buy or consume alcoholic beverages in any capacity. This law
applies to people on an individual level as well as to companies. A person who is found guilty of
consuming alcohol when they are under the age of legal drinking may be subject to a variety of
consequences, such as a monetary punishment, time served in jail, or the loss of their right to
operate a motor vehicle. This is because a person who is found guilty of consuming alcohol
when they are under the age of legal drinking may be subject to a variety of consequences. It is
possible for a person to be subject to one or more of these repercussions if they are detected
drinking while being under the age at which they are legally allowed to consume alcoholic
beverages.
The most efficient method for reducing the number of adolescents who partake in risky
behaviors such as drinking alcohol while underage and teaching adults the significance of having
honest conversations with their kids about alcohol is education. This education can be provided
to both the youth and the adults. It is important for parents to have conversations with their
children about the dangers of underage drinking, the consequences of such conduct from a legal
standpoint, and the relevance of making responsible choices when it comes to the use of
alcoholic beverages (Harmony Square. 2020). In addition, schools should provide children with
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in-depth education on the risks associated with drinking alcohol before the age of legal
adulthood, as well as guidance on how they may confidently refuse to give in to the demands that
are exerted on them by their classmates (Harmony Square. 2020). Also, there is a need for
communities to work together in order to reduce the amount of easy access that young people
have to alcoholic beverages. This may be done by the implementation of various measures, such
as raising the penalty for the sale of alcohol to minors and severely enforcing the regulations that
are currently in place.
The use of alcoholic drinks by individuals who are under the age at which it is permitted
for them to do so is a substantial risk to the overall physical and mental health of society as a
whole. It is vital to educate parents on the necessity of having dialogues connected to alcohol
with their children, and it is essential to teach young people about the hazards involved with
drinking at a young age. Both groups of people should be educated on the other. Also,
municipalities need to work together in order to cut down on the quantity of alcohol that is
accessible to young people and to step up their enforcement of laws that are already in place. If
we take these steps, we will be able to reduce the number of individuals who drink while they are
underage and create an atmosphere that is not only healthier for young people but also safer for
them. This will be a win-win situation for everyone involved.
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Reference
Harmony Square. (2020). Underage Drinking, Dangers, and Consequences – Talk It Out on the
Learning Videos Channel. YouTube. Retrieved February 18, 2023,
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBNrmmwZKOE
