The Consequences of Underage Drinking

by: Tom Atwood - May 1, 2006 - comments: 3

Alcohol drinkers are getting younger all the time, and the effects are seen everywhere. Dr. J. Edward Hill, president of the American Medical Association, told the 2005 Annual Texas Institute on Substance Abuse and Treatment that underage drinking costs the U.S. economy $4.7 million every hour, almost $105 million a day, and over $53 billion per year. ABC News reported that college drinking alone contributes to 1400 student deaths, 500,000 injuries, and 70,000 cases of sexual assault. Underage drinking is associated with traffic accidents, school failure, delinquency, unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and family conflicts.

The NIH News (9/14/04) stated, “Alcohol is the drug most used by young Americans. The risky behaviors often associated with underage drinking can have devastating and life-long consequences. Forty percent of those who start drinking before age fifteen meet criteria for alcoholism at some point in their lives.” Underage drinkers affect not only their own well-being, but also the health and welfare of those around them.

Joseph A. Califano, former Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare and currently president of the Center on Alcohol and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA), concluded, “Underage drinking has reached epidemic proportions in America.” CASA reported that underage drinkers consume 25 percent of the alcohol consumed in the U.S. and that it “damages the young brain, interferes with mental and social development, and interrupts academic progress.”

A very serious consequence of underage drinking is the part it plays in addiction. Eighty-seven percent of drinking adults began before age twenty-one, and adult alcohol abuse is most common among those who began to drink in their early to mid-teens. In fact, the average age for a new drinker is twelve, and very few adults begin drinking alcohol after they reach the legal age.

More than one parent, in dealing with an intoxicated son or daughter, has said with relief, “I’m glad it’s only alcohol!” They fail to grasp how serious alcohol is. In addition to its immediate effects, alcohol opens the door to greater “highs” with other drugs.

The entertainment industry glamorizes alcohol and seldom realistically depicts the sad effects of abuse. Of eighty-one G-rated animated films, a shocking 34 percent associated alcohol with wealth and 19 percent with sexual activity. Beer advertising appeals to kids by using images such as talking lizards or a rock star ferret. Continued marketing to the very young is critical because two-thirds of alcohol sales are to underage and problem drinkers.

Since drinking is a major factor in the three leading causes of teen death — accidents, homicides, and suicides — then what kind of person supplies it for them? Liquor outlets that sell illegally to teens have always existed, and having an older friend purchase it is common. The business of creating false IDs is very lucrative, especially in college communities.

But CASA reports the sad news that most young drinkers get their alcohol in their own home or in a friend’s home. In fact, younger drinkers identify homes as “the most common setting for drinking.” CASA concludes that teens have easy access to alcohol, and in the end “parents are too often unwitting co-conspirators who see underage drinking and occasional bingeing as a rite of passage rather than a deadly round of Russian roulette.” The AMA’s Dr. Hill equates parental approval of teens drinking at home with parental approval of teen sex parties. These parents, even those who claim to be Christians, are naïve, deceived, or corrupted, and are utterly failing in the basics of properly training a child.

Like all problems affecting our families, teen alcohol use must be lovingly but firmly addressed. Here are some starters:

  1. Foster strong spiritual health. One analysis found a 58 percent increase in teen drinking where there was a low religious commitment. A Christ-honoring family and a Bible-teaching church are minimal.
  2. In love, set rules and enforce consequences. Remember, tough love is tough!
  3. Hold kids accountable for where they go, who their friends are, and what they watch or listen to. Garbage in–garbage out!
  4. Set a good example. Adults, too, have no need for addictive, mood-altering substances. No one needs alcohol to relax. “Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk–not as unwise people but as wise” (Eph. 5:15).
  5. Use your influence. Make your voice heard in discussions of curbing alcohol ads on TV, listing alcohol as a drug in substance abuse warnings, and holding parents legally liable for the alcohol use of their children.

Tom Atwood is a minister living in Oxford, Mississippi.

Further Learning

Learn more about: Family, Addictions, Substance Abuse, Parenting

3 comments (post your own) feed

1 On May 12th, 2008, at 4:59pm, aubrie wrote:

i am only fourteen and in my school community i hear about kids including friends of mine getting drunk and not just once… i think it is completely a mistake to start drinking so young, and i wish this wasn’t the epidemic it is.. because of the yearly costs in america alone, we are unable to spend those billions of dollars, used on buying liquor and treatment for alchol-related injuries, on things that truley matter on a global scale...never mind all of the stress, irrritation and problems underage drinking creates…
no GOOD can come from it

2 On Aug 4th, 2008, at 12:31pm, kevin wrote:

i am also 14 and i am a juvenile one night in late may me and to friends of mine snuck out and got drunk and threw eggs at cars. when the cops came we all ran and i was to drunk to get away. I regret ever drinking. i am irish and i come from a family of drinkers and smokers. however i have not taken a sip of the poison since that night and i never will again. some things i do to get my mind of of alcohol is play lacrosse footballbasketball or lift weights with no drugs or alcohol in my system my head is on straight once again

3 On Aug 27th, 2008, at 5:02pm, Kurstin wrote:

I am 15 and I just hate the fact that teens realy thing this to be “cool”? I realy dont know y you would put your body through this at a young age!!! That would be like throwing away all your values and self respect there are so many things that you could do that youd regret later like....loseing your innocents!!!!!!!!!!! As much as I hate it even after all the lectures teen in our school still drink and some die!!!:(

Post a Comment




Notify me of follow-up comments?

Comments are moderated to preserve the family-oriented nature of this website and in an attempt to avoid comment spam. We welcome opposing viewpoints, and we will not turn comments away as long as your views are presented with respect to everyone.

Your comments will not appear immediately and are subject to editing or deletion. We will make every attempt to check new comments in a timely manner, though there will likely be delays on the weekends and around holidays.

Please follow the these guidelines to insure your comments will be posted:

  1. Use a real name, at least a real first name. We find folks are less-rude online when not hiding behind a screen-name.
  2. Name-calling and vulgar-language will not be tolerated. Zero-tolerance is our policy. We will not spend time editing profanity. If it contains foul language, your post will be deleted. Oh, and we decide what is and what is not vulgar.
  3. Comments must be on topic. General comments (compliments, complaints, and otherwise) are best delivered here or expressed on your own personal Web site.

Other than that, we welcome you and hope to see thoughtful discussions here at FaithandFamily.com