Underage Drinking

Widespread Underage Drinking

While the number of teens who drink has been going down over the past few years, there are still millions of underage drinkers nationwide.

Among those 10 million underage drinkers, about were 6.5 million binge drinkers and 2 million were heavy drinkers. Prevention methods may contribute to the lower rates of abuse, but the current problem is still very real.

Health and Societal Impact of Underage Drinking

Researchers suggest that teens are more likely than adults to abuse alcohol because of the way the human brain develops. During adolescence, the teenage brain’s pleasure centers mature quicker than the part of the brain responsible for sound decision-making.

Many teens do not have the mental capacity to fully understand the consequences of drinking or even be aware of them. Teens can face immediate negative consequences, such as brain damage and delayed puberty. Indirect health issues, such as car crashes and sexual assaults, are also common problems from drinking.

Underage drinking affects not only the drinker but society in general. This is because intoxicated teens can make impulsive decisions regarding driving under the influence and causing fights, acts that get people hurt or even killed.

Some concerns include:

Brain damage

Researchers believe that heavy drinking in adolescence can impair brain function later in life. Memory, coordination and motor skills may be affected.

Car crashes

Alcohol is a big factor in fatal accidents, affecting both passengers and drivers. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens. About a quarter of those crashes involve a driver who is drinking underage.

Assaults and sexual activity

Teenagers who drink heavily are more likely to be involved in sexual assaults and physical fights. Additionally, teens who drink are less likely to use protection during sexual activity. This can lead to unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.