Cause And Effect Of Underage Drinking

Many children today are at risk of becoming alcoholics. There are many reasons for this, in this paper I will exam the causes of underage drinking and they effects that this may place on the individual, their families, and society. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, "Young people begin to take risks and experiment as they transition from childhood to adulthood. Without support and guidance, some young people may engage in behaviors that place them and others at risk - including using alcohol." (Youth and Underage Drinking: An Overview, 2004).

As a child growing up I remember many occasions were I was exposed to some form of alcohol related activities. Just watching television on Sunday afternoons I would see commercials for beer and other alcoholic beverages. These commercials would glorify the beverages by showing young adults engaged in activities such as being at football games, a bar, baseball games, and other enjoyable activities. The Commercials don't show you the 45-year-old man who lost every thing because of his alcoholism, or the guy how had one to many the night before hugging the toilet. They also show things that kids like in the commercials. Budweiser for example has the bullfrogs and the chameleons. I feel that the alcohol industries are targeting youth and are willing to do just about anything in order to keep themselves out of trouble. I also believe that the advertisements are a contributing factor to underage drinking. I think that advertisements are acceptable if they are placed in a location which reach an "audience made up of at least 70% of adults over 21." In my eyes advertisers are making significant changes in order to reduce the problem of underage drinking. But we must see that the advertisers know the large amounts of money can be brought in from the youth. Even going to weddings I always wonted to drink because everyone just made it look so fun.

Children grow up with alcohol in their homes and believe that alcohol is a part of the every day American life, and is a normal accompaniment to most social events. I know that most Americans enjoy drinking on a regular basis. Personally I think that s people are to uptight and drinking socially can help them relax.

The reasons why adolescents use alcohol are complex but include curiosity, a need to fit in with friends, peer pressure, and a need to relax and escape problems. "On average, young people begin drinking at about age 13, but some start even younger. By the time they are high school seniors, more than 80 percent have used alcohol and approximately 64 percent have been drunk. When adolescents move on to college, they bring their drinking habits with them, and more than 40 percent of college students are binge drinkers." (Youth and Underage Drinking: An Overview, 2004). Fifty-six percent of students in grades 5 through 12 say that alcohol advertising