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Reasons Teens Drink Alcohol

Despite the fact that the legal age limit for alcohol consumption is 21, adolescents under that age often still decide to drink. According to Focus Adolescent Services, boys will try their first alcoholic beverage at 11, while girls will try their first drink at 13. There are many reasons why teens will drink that include peer pressure and impulsiveness.

  1. Peer Pressure

    • Teens may feel pressured into drinking when they see their peers partaking in alcohol consumption, thinking they need to emulate that behavior to fit in or become popular. According to PBS Kids, silent peer pressure refers to seeing other kids drinking and feeling the compulsion to drink as well.

    Curiosity

    • Teens may choose to try alcohol out of curiosity. Trying something that's considered dangerous is exciting and teens often feel the need to explore that danger. Acting impulsively is a form of thrill seeking for teens; the consequences of what will happen when they drink alcohol aren't usually taken into consideration.

    Genetics

    • Teens can drink due to a family history of alcoholism. According to the Mayo Clinic, if a parent abuses alcohol, the risk of alcoholism increases in their children. Children who come from alcoholic families will experiment with drinking at an early age in comparison to children who don't come from a background of alcoholism. If teens watch their parents consuming alcohol on a regular basis, they'll think it's okay for them to drink.

    Media

    • According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol is being more aggressively promoted through the media. The glamorous portrayal of alcohol in movies and magazine ads may send a message that it's cool to drink. When teens see this, they may be more inclined to want to drink.

    Alcohol Tolerance

    • According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, it's believed teens will binge drink because of the lack of negative effects they may experience. A teen's brain is in the process of maturing in comparison to the adult brain that has already developed. As a result, teens can consume larger quantities of alcohol before experiencing negative effects such as drowsiness and hangovers.

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