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Kate Nickolson

Ms. Wilson

English II Honors

May 17th, 2019

The Effects of Alcohol in Teens

Today in the United States, 35% of 15 year olds alone have consumed alcohol sometime

in their teenage years. Teenagers in this generation face a problem of drinking underage. Teens

all over the world consume alcohol while they are underage knowing it is illegal to do so. When

drinking they do not realize the effects and impact alcohol has on them physically and

emotionally. Teens often find themselves drinking as a way to be viewed positively by others.

They also drink as a way to make themselves feel relief from pressures in school and at home.

From drinking underage, teens are more likely to fall into alcoholism when starting to drink at an

early age. From every teenager who drinks, 1in 6 of them are binge drinking. Binge drinking is

consuming excessive amounts of alcohol from temptation and desire. Binge drinking damages a

teen more than an average teenager trying a sip of alcohol. Drinking alcohol underage has come

from peer pressure and desire for fun and relief. From this, teens can later fall into addiction and

develop behavioral issues from the consumption of alcohol.

Constantly drinking in teenage years may lead to alcoholism in adulthood. An article

from Family Practice News by Damian McNamara states “There are nearly 14 million teenagers,

or 1 in 13, in the United States who abuse alcohol or who are alcohol dependent, according to the

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Pediatricians may be able to make a long-

term difference since more than 35% of adults with an alcohol problem say they were binge
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drinkers before age 19.” (McNamara) This is a problem because abuse of alcohol can lead to an

addiction which can lead to major health problems or even death. Some solutions to preventing

addiction is to inform teens about facts that even may be scary. The family practice news states

“The best way to get [children] to change, rather than lecturing to them, is to present them with

as many facts as you can," (McNamara)

Underage drinking can lead to alcoholism, but it can also lead to behavioral problems.

Under the influence, alcohol changes the brain and the way people act. It causes those drinking

to have trouble making decisions. These bad decisions are usually made from the effect of too

much consumption of alcohol. An article from the North American Journal of Psychology “Of

course, being under the influence of alcohol could make an individual lose control of his or her

cognitive and physical functioning. Also, it could make a person less capable of discussing a

non-violent conflict resolution that would lead to healthy relationships between intimate

partners.”(“Age, Alcohol Attitude and Self-Esteem Effects on Attitudes toward Intimate Partner

Violence”). Under the influence, adults and teenagers have trouble controlling their decisions. It

can be difficult to refrain teens from drinking but you can still inform them of the facts. It could

also help to show them different scenes that they may face.

Teenagers who drink under age often become involved through peer pressure. Teens find

themselves looking to others for approval leading them to do things they may not want to do. In

cases of drinking, a teenager may be at a party with a bunch of friends who brought alcohol.

Peers may be drinking and try to convince others to drink insisting that it is fun. A report Young

Studies Australia states, “Faced with a great deal of peer pressure, teens often do things they

don't really want to in order to belong.”They also state “young people face 'the risk of social
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exclusion if they don't drink the way their peers are drinking'.”(Headley). This is a problem

because it leads people to making decisions that they don't want to make to make others feel

happy. We can solve these problems by telling telling teens that it is ok to say no when you are in

uncomfortable positions. We can also provide sources where people are aware of situations and

how to react to them.

Alcohol has affected teens globally. Through peer pressure, addiction and harsh behavior

alcohol has influenced and impacted young drinkers. These affects change teenagers physically

and emotionally. In high schools, 1 in 6 teens have been reported drinking. Around you there

could be a few of theses teens that have been drinking with you knowing or not knowing . To

help them and to continue to solve this problem you can talk to them. Adults and peers should

talk to those drinking under age and warn them of the effects of drinking alcohol. Teens also can

be warned through a proper education on substance abuse. Some teenagers don't know how

much alcohol or people can really affect them. Underage drinking has affected many teens and

it's not too late to help or prevent other from early consumption.

Works Cited
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● Gordon, Anitra. "Teens, Drugs, and Peer Pressure." School Library Journal, Sept. 2000,

p. 68. Academic OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A65643961/AONE?

u=ncowl&sid=AONE&xid=ab737cb0. Accessed 3 May 2019.

● Headley, Sue. "Report confirms that young people feel pressure to drink." Youth Studies

Australia, Mar. 2011, p. 7. Academic OneFile,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A252739504/AONE?

u=ncowl&sid=AONE&xid=a21864a7. Accessed 3 May 2019.

● Lawal, Abiodun Musbau, et al. "Age, Alcohol Attitude and Self-Esteem Effects on

Attitudes toward Intimate Partner Violence." North American Journal of Psychology, vol.

21, no. 1, 2019, p. 173. Academic OneFile,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A576378116/AONE?

u=ncowl&sid=AONE&xid=5dacb927. Accessed 3 May 2019.

● McNamara, Damian. "Straight talk can address alcohol abuse in teens: more than 35% of

adults who have an alcohol problem say they were binge drinkers before age 19." Family

Practice News, 15 Apr. 2005, p. 38. Academic OneFile,