Teenage Binge Drinking – The Facts

Teenagers who regularly consume 5+ alcoholic beverages in one sitting fall under the binge drinker label. Teen binge drinking prevention can aid in the fight against future health issues and alcohol dependency. Educating children on the facts surrounding this issue is vital to ensuring a happy, safe, and sober lifestyle down the road.

Judgment

Alcohol works to impair judgment, while potentially leading teens to engage in poor decision-making in regard to sexual activity, education, finances, relationships, etc. In some cases, alcohol intake can also result in violent behaviors.

Brain Damage

The teenage brain is still in development. Binge drinking may serve to hinder development, and potentially cause long-term issues in adulthood. Studies reveal that teen binge drinkers often achieve much lower GPAs than students who choose to abstain. In addition, binge drinking has also been seen to negatively impact teen memory function.

Addiction

Additional studies show that adults who are over 21 years of age who have taken their first drink prior to turning 21 are at a higher risk for alcohol dependency or abuse. Alcohol dependence is a lifelong issue for many people throughout the world, and is something from which teenagers should be protected.

Underage Drinking

Regardless of your stance on underage drinking, the fact remains: It is illegal. Teens who are convicted of alcohol-related offenses may experience difficulty getting into college or gaining employment down the road. While many perceive teenage drinking as a “rite of passage”, the consequences associated with it appear only to hinder rather than encourage future successes.