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According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, this month serves as an opportunity to update your knowledge about the adverse effects of alcohol misuse on health and society. It is also a good time to talk to teens about drinking and to equip them with the knowledge to handle situations involving alcohol. 

Even teens who would not normally be tempted to drink alcohol may be drawn in by certain social situations, so don’t assume they have all the facts they need to resist peer pressure. Sometimes friends urge one another to have a drink, but it is just as common for youth to try drinking because alcohol is readily available. 

They see their friends or older siblings enjoying it and, to them, alcohol use is part of a normal teenage or young adult experience. Popular media reinforces this idea. Ads often glamorize alcohol use to attract new drinkers and rarely show the downsides of alcohol use.

Parents and trusted adults can play a meaningful role in shaping youth’s attitudes toward drinking.

Underage Drinking: Risks and Stats

🚫 The Problem: Underage drinking is a serious issue in the United States. It means young people drinking alcohol, and that’s not safe for their health.

🔹 Why It Matters?: Underage drinking affects everyone:

  • People get aggressive.
  • Stuff gets broken (like property).
  • Injuries happen.
  • Violence can erupt.
  • Sadly, sometimes it leads to deaths.

🔹 Nationwide Concern: It’s not just a problem for some families—it’s a concern for our whole country.

The Numbers Speak

  • In 2022, about 19.7% of youth ages 14 to 15 tried alcohol at least once.
  • A staggering 5.8 million young folks ages 12 to 20 went beyond “just a few sips” in the past month.
  • Different backgrounds matter: White and Hispanic youth drink more than Black youth.

Patterns and Prevention

  • Alcohol use often starts during adolescence and becomes more common as teens grow up.
  • Fewer than 2 in 100 teens ages 12 to 13 drank alcohol recently, and even fewer binged on it.
  • Early prevention matters: The sooner we act, the better. Earlier alcohol use is linked to more risks later on.

Boys vs. Girls

  • Historically, boys drank and binged more. But now, girls are catching up.
  • More girls report alcohol use (8.5% vs. 5.5%) and binge drinking (4.0% vs. 2.6%) than boys.

Underage Drinking: Risks and Consequences

🚫 Why It’s Dangerous: Underage drinking is a serious issue. Let’s break it down:

  1. Causes Deaths: Alcohol is a big reason for deaths among people younger than 21 in the U.S. Think car crashes, homicides, overdoses, falls, burns, drowning, and even suicides.
  2. Injuries Galore: Drinking leads to injuries. In 2011, around 188,000 young folks visited the ER because of alcohol-related injuries.
  3. Bad Choices: Alcohol messes with our judgment. Risky stuff like unsafe sex, drunk driving, and aggressive behavior—yep, it’s all part of it.
  4. Assault Risk: Binge drinking makes us more likely to be victims or do bad things to others.
  5. Other Troubles: Booze can mess up school and law stuff. Plus, it’s linked to using other substances.
  6. Future Problems: Starting young can lead to alcohol issues later in life. People who start before 15 are more likely to have alcohol problems later on.
  7. Brain Impact: Our brains keep growing until our 20s. Alcohol messes with that growth, causing learning issues and making us more vulnerable to alcohol problems.

🔹 Why Do Teens Drink?:

  • Friends push us (peer pressure)
  • We want freedom.
  • Stress gets to us.
  • And guess what? Booze is often right at home.

Binge Drinking: What You Need to Know

What Is Binge Drinking?

Binge drinking is when someone drinks a lot of alcohol in a short time. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) says it’s when your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) hits 0.08% or more. That’s like having 0.08 grams of alcohol in every deciliter of your blood.

For girls, it usually means having 4 or more drinks within about 2 hours. For guys, it’s 5 or more drinks.

Why Is Binge Drinking Dangerous?

Binge drinking can lead to serious problems:

  • Deaths: It’s a big cause of deaths for people under 21. Think car crashes, violence, and even suicides.
  • Injuries: People get hurt, falls happen, burns, and more.
  • Bad Choices: Alcohol messes with our judgment. We might do risky stuff like unsafe sex or drunk driving.
  • Assault Risk: Binge drinking makes us more likely to be victims or do bad things to others.
  • Future Troubles: Starting young can lead to alcohol problems later in life. Our brains are still growing, and alcohol can mess with that.

How Can We Prevent It?

  • Talk About It: Parents, teachers, and friends—let’s talk about the dangers of drinking.
  • Be Role Models: If we drink, let’s do it responsibly.
  • Set Rules: Parents, set clear rules against drinking.
  • Community Efforts: Schools and communities can help too.
  • Laws Matter: Laws can make alcohol harder to get.

Parents’ Role

Some parents or caregivers believe that it is better to teach their children to drink responsibly or in moderation than to have clear rules against underage drinking. Many feel that, as long as their child doesn’t drink and drive, some alcohol use before the age of 21 is to be expected and is not especially worrisome.

Beliefs like these are understandable but are not supported by a growing body of research. 

This evidence increasingly points to the specific harms of any alcohol use prior to adulthood. Indeed, numerous studies have shown that kids whose parents let them drink before they reach the legal age of 21 are, on average, more likely to drink in riskier ways and experience future alcohol-related problems than kids whose parents do not permit any underage drinking.

Parents play a big part:

  • Talk to kids about alcohol dangers.
  • Be good role models.
  • Keep an eye on parties.
  • Encourage fun activities without alcohol.

Warning Signs of Underage Drinking: What Parents and Teachers Should Know

Adolescence and Behavior Changes

Adolescence is a time of transformation—our bodies change, our minds grow, and our behaviors shift. Most of these changes are part of growing up. But sometimes, they can signal an alcohol problem. As parents, families, and teachers, we need to pay attention to the warning signs that might indicate underage drinking.

Red Flags to Watch For

Here are the signs to keep an eye on:

  1. Mood Swings: If your teen suddenly becomes more irritable or angry, it could be a clue.
  2. School Struggles: Academic or behavioral problems at school might point to alcohol use.
  3. Rebellious Behavior: Is your child acting out more than usual? It’s worth noting.
  4. Friendship Shifts: Changing friend groups can be a sign of something deeper.
  5. Low Energy: If your teen seems unusually tired or disinterested, pay attention.
  6. Appearance Neglect: Less care in appearance or loss of interest in activities could be a red flag.
  7. Alcohol Discovery: Finding alcohol among your adolescent’s belongings is a serious warning sign.
  8. Alcohol Smell: If you notice alcohol on their breath, take it seriously.
  9. Cognitive Issues: Problems with concentration, memory, or slurred speech are concerning.
  10. Coordination Trouble: Difficulty moving, or clumsiness might be linked to alcohol use.

Taking Action

  • Screening Matters: Regularly screen youth for alcohol use. Early detection can prevent bigger problems later.
  • Professional Help: Some teens face serious alcohol-related issues. Trained professionals can help through counseling, prescriptions, or family therapy.

Source 1: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/underage-drinking

Source 2: https://drugfree.org/drugs/alcohol/