The Tri-Lite

Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: News

Media Credit: google images

College students have a reputation for partying and drinking, even those who are under 21. Underage drinking is rampant among this age group, and has been for years. The statistics are alarming. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism said, "Two out of every five 8th graders has consumed alcohol." It's scary when you think about it. I am of age to drink and will admit to drinking while I was underage; however, I do not remember drinking in middle school. Why are young tweens and teens experimenting with alcohol so young? What has changed since I was a middle-schooler?

Most people say that peer pressure is what leads adolescents to drink. Every group has a leader, so why are those leaders deciding to drink? Most 13 and 14-year-old teenagers are always trying to act older then they really are. Their minds and bodies are growing rapidly and they feel obligated to act the age they feel.

As a teenager, everyone tells you what to do and what not to do. In a lot of cases, that leads to rebellion. Maybe it is the fact that alcohol is forbidden that lures these kids to drink so young., in addition to peer pressure. You're a 14-year-old. You go to a party and there is alcohol there. You are offered a drink. What do you do? Even at my age, if I'm at a party and decline a drink, people look at me strangely. Some teens also drink because that is what they know. Children of alcoholics are brought up around it, and they see their parents as role models. According to The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, children of alcoholics are 4 times more likely to become alcoholics, and are also more likely to begin drinking at an earlier age.

It can be as simple as tolerance. A teenager's brain is still maturing, and an adult brain, in comparison, is quite different. I remember drinking hard liquor a few years ago, but if I did that now, the effects would be much greater. Teens, in some cases, don't experience as much loss of coordination or hangovers after drinking alcohol. They see this as a positive thing and continue drinking. I was lucky enough to speak with a fourteen-year-old about their own drinking experience. The person, whom I will refer to as "S", said, " I drink because it's fun. It's like drinking regular stuff until you feel retarded." It terrifies me to hear these things come out of such a young person's mouth.

With age comes wisdom, which we all know. I know now that you don't need alcohol to have a good time and in some cases, alcohol can make situations worse and dangerous. Underage drinking is more likely to kill teenagers than all drugs combined, and there is only so much lawmakers and police can do to help this situation. It is up to the individual to learn the harmful effects alcohol can have on your life. The drinking age is set at 21 for a reason.

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