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Problems Caused by Underaged Drinking

The problems associated with underage drinking have reached epidemic proportions in recent years. In figures released by the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine in January 2006, alcohol abuse is responsible for the deaths of 5,000 underage drinkers each year. Developmental transitions have been widely attributed to underage alcohol abuse, and the risk-taking culture that has built over time is leading to an increased number of physical and psychological problems in drinkers under the age of 21.

  1. Brain Damage

    • Studies carried out by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in February 2000 revealed that alcohol consumption in adolescents results in brain damage and the effects can be permanent. The brains of underage drinkers are still growing and alcohol consumption has a detrimental effect on intellectual performance.

    Liver Damage

    • Underage drinkers often have an increased number of liver enzymes, which supports claims that alcohol contributes to long-term liver damage. The problem is particularly prevalent in underage drinkers with obesity problems, and elevated liver enzymes are common even if alcohol consumption remains at a moderate level.

    Growth Issues

    • In a 2001 Alcohol Research and Health study of female puberty, which used animals for intraovarian testing, W.L. Dees found that the consumption of alcohol during puberty alters the way in which the reproductive system matures. Alcohol has been shown to upset the delicate hormonal balance required for natural organ development, and underage drinkers risk abnormal muscle and bone development.

    Sexual Disease and Assault

    • High levels of alcohol consumption change regular behavioral patterns. Binge drinking is responsible for many cases of teenage rape and sexual assault, and there are always severe repercussions when underage drinkers indulge in routine sexual activity. A report compiled by the Center of Addiction and Substance Abuse claimed that 60 percent of female college students had contracted sexually transmitted diseases after consuming high levels of alcohol, and 90 percent of all rapes on campus were committed after alcohol consumption by either the victim, the assailant or both.

    Poor Reputation

    • Many adolescents begin drinking at a young age because of peer pressure. Others drink to try to show a level of maturity beyond their years in the hope of gaining friendship and respect. The reality of underage drinking is somewhat different. Alcohol abuse increases levels of antisocial behavior, aggressiveness and anxiety. Their friends often shun habitual drinkers, and this can lead to violent bout of depression and communicative withdrawal.

    Academic Performance

    • College students with alcohol-related issues regularly fail academically. High levels of alcohol intake can slow down thinking and reaction times, and post-drinking illness costs student vital learning time as they recover. In some cases, underage drinkers are expelled from campus for turning up to lectures under the influence of alcohol, or simply not turning up at all.

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