Laws in America seem to be guidelines for what we as citizens can and cannot do. One law that is certainly abused is the national drinking age. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 requested that every state raise their minimum drinking and purchasing of alcohol to the age of twenty-one. But it does not specifically state that anyone underage cannot drink alcohol.
Many high school and college students do consume alcohol at an astounding rate. According to an article by the Centers for Disease Control, 11% of consumed alcohol is drunk by teens between the ages of twelve and twenty. Approximately 90% of this alcohol consumed is through binge drinking. MedicineNet.com defines binge drinking as “the dangerous practice of consuming large quantities of alcoholic beverages in a single session,” with a side note saying, “Binge drinking carries a serious risk of harm, including alcohol poisoning."
Out of all the teens that drink underage, 19% reported that they were binge drinking at one time or another. There are many risks to binge drinking. Some of the serious risks are a greater risk of committing homicide or suicide, injuries, memory loss later in life, abusing other drugs, life-long effects that could change brain development, or death by alcohol poisoning. Many underage drinkers think that they are invincible, and nothing bad can happen to them. Alcohol poisoning is a serious risk to these drinkers. One article published by the Campaign Safe and Sober, states that the Remove Intoxicated Drivers’ research estimates that about 4,000 deaths each year are contributed by alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning can cause the victim to choke on their own vomit, their breathing may become irregular or even stop, their heart beat may become irregular or stop, hypothermia that can lead to cardiac arrest, or hypoglycemia that leads to seizures. Even if the victim of alcohol poisoning lives, they could suffer from irreversible brain damage.
Many people are aware of alcohol poisoning, but many don't know the warning signs. CollegeDrinking Prevention.com says that you should call 911 for help if the victim cannot be awoken, is having difficulty breathing, having seizures, vomiting, or is a pale, blue color. Alcohol prevents the nerves from functioning properly. A large amount could stop body functions completely. A person's blood alcohol content (BAC) can still rise after passing out. Alcohol that is still in the stomach will continue to move through the blood, making their BAC higher. Due to this fact, the website warns readers to be aware that a sleeping or passes out person may die.
Underage drinking may seem like something small at the time of doing it, but it can turn into something much bigger. Binge drinking leads to all sorts of harmful outcomes. Alcohol poisoning is very serious and everyone should be aware that it could happen to them. Drinking is harmful and should only be done when one is of age and is done responsibly.
Why is it that the US has a drinking age of 21? The drinking age varies between no legal drinking age and 21. In places like: Cambodia, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Finland etc. There is no drinking age, but in Spain the drinking age is 14. Many places, for example, Ghana has a drinking age of 18. The US and two other places stand alone with a drinking age of 21(information found at http://cognac.com/legal-drinking-age-in-different-countries/). If there wasn't a drinking age people won't abuse the use of alcohol as often, or drink because they know they are not suppose to do it. I believe that if people were able to do it, it wouldn't be that much of a big deal. Honestly, with or without a drinking age people are still going to drink no matter what age. I don’t agree with the amount of alcohol college students consume at all. This is not only dangerous for the person drinking, but to others around them. Do you think that colleges should band liquor at college parties especially Fraternity and Sororities parties? Should colleges do everything to ensure that there is no alcohol or underage drinking on campus? If so wont people just find their way around that barrier like they do every other barrier?
ReplyDeleteThis blog caught my attention because I was skimming through different topics and this is the one I had a lot to say about. The facts in this blog are very interesting; I didn't know that one of the risks of binge drinking was homicide or suicide. What pulled me in were the different facts placed in the blog. This blog was what I expected it to be, the name was very clear on what the blog was about. Is there any possibility that the drinking age in the US might change?
Just because someone is of the drinking age does not make them a more experienced drinker or a more responsible drinker. Where do you think our idiotic peers got there drinking habits from? They learn from the older, more responsible adults that are over the age of twenty-one. The drinking age has nothing to do with binge drinking. If someone is going to consume too much alcohol then they will regardless how old the consumer is. Switzerland, Finland, Greece, Denmark, Poland, Italy and many more countries do not have a legal drinking age. In Switzerland an average of 2,100 people die from alcohol compared to Americas 85,000 (http://drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/30). If America lowered the drinking age we would not have the incentive to go out, drink, and party with friends. The teenagers would not have the thrill of doing something against the law and learn to handle themselves better.
ReplyDeleteDo you want to know why the underage drinking is so bad? Maybe it has something to do with how easily children can get alcohol and have no guidance when it comes to drinking. Children see alcohol as a pleasure adults enjoy and only adults so naturally if someone tells them not to drink they are just too curious and want to try it. If the law was to change the the drinking age to eighteen then the younger people would not binge drink as much and it would not be illegal for an eighteen year old to drink also.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Sarah. I have a friend who is 21 and he drinks almost everyday. Abusing the age of being 21 since he can buy alcohol. He has become a completely different person, he even looks different unfortunatley, he feels like he invincible. He doesn't realize that he looks any different but anytime he posts a new picture he looks even worse. It doesn't matter what the drinking age is, there is always going to be someone to give alcholols to minors.
ReplyDelete