Underaged Drinking

Underage Drinking

Teenage drinking, in the United States, is a growing problem in today's society. There are many reasons why teenagers drink alcohol, even though they are not of age. The bigger problem is the effects of alcohol and the consequences that drinking alcohol brings.

There are a number of reasons why teenagers drink alcohol, even though the legal age is twenty-one. Some teens may just want to be more popular, and they feel by drinking alcohol they will be considered "cool". Family influence is another possible cause for teenage drinking. Growing up watching a family member drink all the time, may lead a teenager to think it is okay to drink.

What teenagers don't realize is the side effects to drinking, and the impact it can have on a young person's life. Side effects of alcohol include: loss of inhibition and judgment, increased hostility and aggression, depression of the central nervous system, loss of coordination, speech and vision impairments, slowed or stopped respiration and heart rate, malnutrition, cirrhosis of the liver, and death. These side effects could have a serious impact on a teenager's personality, health, and performance.

Drinking alcoholic beverages can change someone's personality by making them more aggressive and hostile. They could become more confrontational, which could lead to fighting. A teenager might lose friends because of fighting, and possible trouble with the law. Also, alcohol can affect their judgment and cause poor decisions.

Performance at school and a job may drop. Grades go down because time is spent drinking rather then doing school work. A teenager might have to take time out of school and work because of the after effects of drinking, feeling sick and nauseous. This could lead to being kicked out of school and getting fired from a job.

The most dangerous side effects are those