Teenage Drinking Research Paper
Ankit Chopra
Prof. Jackson
CMAT
October 29, 2010
Causes of Teenage drinking
3/4 teenagers have already consumed alcohol more than just a few sips by the end of high school. Most of us know the effects of drinking, but, ever wondered why teenagers drink? The teenage years are a period of mixed thoughts, and emotions. These are the years, when young adults learn to take important decisions on their own. These are also the years, when teenagers come under heavy influence from others. One of the most important reasons among teenagers for drinking alcohol is peer pressure. For teenagers, it can seem very important to ‘fit in’ or ‘not to stand out’. More than 50% of 12th graders have been reported drunk at least once in their high school days. Teens are very concerned about their images, and what others think about them. Every youngster belongs to a certain group in …show more content…
the school, where other teens drink and party. Anyone who does not follow the same pattern is looked upon as an odd one out, and is not given acceptance. This in turn, results in exclusion from the friend circle/group. Hence, when every one around them opts for alcohol, teens resort to the habit as matter of being “in” with the group. Another reason behind teenage drinking is that it is considered cool and audacious. Everyone that drinks in the school is considered cool, and has a high reputation among friends. It is considered a status symbol, and a lot of the times, it gives you an easy access to a casual one night stand. Most of the teenagers get pulled into this massive temptation, and fall in to the pit hole of self – destruction. Many countries inherit this drinking culture; where teenagers start drinking at a very young age. There is no age limit to drinking alcohol in countries such as Italy, Greece, France, and Serbia. Germany holds arguably the biggest drinking festival of the world called ocktoberfest, which is attended by over six million people every year. Cultures like this promote teenage drinking, which is not good for teenagers by any means. Another important factor in terms of teenage drinking is; the influence of alcoholic parents. One of the common reasons why teenagers pick up drinking habits is, watching their parents rely on the bottle. During a child’s adolescence, the behavior of parents greatly influences children’s mind. Growing up watching their parents drink so often, makes them believe that drinking is done by mature people, and hence, children try to copy the drinking habits of their parents to look more mature. “Escapism” causes teenagers to drink as well.
Many youngsters start to drink to escape the stress of workload, and burden of studies. Another reason for drinking is, to forget the effects of break ups in relationships. Many teenagers resort to drinking alcohol, to get over their past life. Those who drink to drown their sorrows must be told that sorrow knows how to swim
Here are some startling facts about teenage drinking.
• About 2/5th of students in America have already tried alcohol by the end of 8th grade.
• Out of those 2/5th at least 1 had been reported drunk in 8th grade itself.
• In 2009 Monitoring The Future survey had reported that 37% of the 8th graders have tried alcohol even before entering the high school and 72% of the 12th graders have tried alcohol even before getting into a college.
• More than 60% of college women diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease were drunk at the time of the infection.
• Each year students in America spend more than 5.5 billion $ on alcohol which is more than what they spend on coffee, soft drinks, tea, juice, or books
combined.
• And last but not the least I would like to mention that 1700 college students are killed every year: about 4.65 every day, as a result of alcohol related injuries.
Don’t these facts make you wonder why do teenagers start drinking alcohol at such a small age? According to a Japanese proverb, “first the man takes a drink; then the drink takes another drink; then the drink takes the man”.
Prof. Jackson
CMAT
October 29, 2010
Causes of Teenage drinking
3/4 teenagers have already consumed alcohol more than just a few sips by the end of high school. Most of us know the effects of drinking, but, ever wondered why teenagers drink? The teenage years are a period of mixed thoughts, and emotions. These are the years, when young adults learn to take important decisions on their own. These are also the years, when teenagers come under heavy influence from others. One of the most important reasons among teenagers for drinking alcohol is peer pressure. For teenagers, it can seem very important to ‘fit in’ or ‘not to stand out’. More than 50% of 12th graders have been reported drunk at least once in their high school days. Teens are very concerned about their images, and what others think about them. Every youngster belongs to a certain group in …show more content…
the school, where other teens drink and party. Anyone who does not follow the same pattern is looked upon as an odd one out, and is not given acceptance. This in turn, results in exclusion from the friend circle/group. Hence, when every one around them opts for alcohol, teens resort to the habit as matter of being “in” with the group. Another reason behind teenage drinking is that it is considered cool and audacious. Everyone that drinks in the school is considered cool, and has a high reputation among friends. It is considered a status symbol, and a lot of the times, it gives you an easy access to a casual one night stand. Most of the teenagers get pulled into this massive temptation, and fall in to the pit hole of self – destruction. Many countries inherit this drinking culture; where teenagers start drinking at a very young age. There is no age limit to drinking alcohol in countries such as Italy, Greece, France, and Serbia. Germany holds arguably the biggest drinking festival of the world called ocktoberfest, which is attended by over six million people every year. Cultures like this promote teenage drinking, which is not good for teenagers by any means. Another important factor in terms of teenage drinking is; the influence of alcoholic parents. One of the common reasons why teenagers pick up drinking habits is, watching their parents rely on the bottle. During a child’s adolescence, the behavior of parents greatly influences children’s mind. Growing up watching their parents drink so often, makes them believe that drinking is done by mature people, and hence, children try to copy the drinking habits of their parents to look more mature. “Escapism” causes teenagers to drink as well.
Many youngsters start to drink to escape the stress of workload, and burden of studies. Another reason for drinking is, to forget the effects of break ups in relationships. Many teenagers resort to drinking alcohol, to get over their past life. Those who drink to drown their sorrows must be told that sorrow knows how to swim
Here are some startling facts about teenage drinking.
• About 2/5th of students in America have already tried alcohol by the end of 8th grade.
• Out of those 2/5th at least 1 had been reported drunk in 8th grade itself.
• In 2009 Monitoring The Future survey had reported that 37% of the 8th graders have tried alcohol even before entering the high school and 72% of the 12th graders have tried alcohol even before getting into a college.
• More than 60% of college women diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease were drunk at the time of the infection.
• Each year students in America spend more than 5.5 billion $ on alcohol which is more than what they spend on coffee, soft drinks, tea, juice, or books
combined.
• And last but not the least I would like to mention that 1700 college students are killed every year: about 4.65 every day, as a result of alcohol related injuries.
Don’t these facts make you wonder why do teenagers start drinking alcohol at such a small age? According to a Japanese proverb, “first the man takes a drink; then the drink takes another drink; then the drink takes the man”.