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The Effects of Alcohol for Kids

Although alcohol is a legal and socially acceptable drug for adults to consume in moderation, the law prohibits children from drinking alcohol. Not only are the physical effects of alcohol more profound on a child, putting them at risk of harming themselves, but children are also more vulnerable to the adverse affects that drinking alcohol can have on their emotional state, behavior and social skills.

  1. Physical Effects

    • According to Kids Health, drinking alcohol can cause blurred vision and compromised hearing and coordination, all of which can be more severe in a child or teenager. Drinking alcohol can be dangerous in children who are experimenting for the first few times because they are not aware of the safe limits, which can cause severe sickness which in some cases go on to require hospitalization, says Drink Aware. Children, like adults, will also experience hangovers which will interfere with their ability to function properly at school and lead a normal, healthy life. In addition, alcohol can interfere with important developmental processes while also curbing appetite, depleting important vitamins and in the long-term causing damage to the liver, heart and central nervous system.

    Emotional Effects

    • Alcohol can alter a person's perception of the world and their surroundings while also heightening emotions so that they are felt more powerfully. For a child, who is less equipped and experienced in dealing with strong emotions, this can be overwhelming and mentally harmful. For example, if a child is upset or worrying about something, drinking alcohol can serve to amplify this emotion, making it appear more difficult to face and overcome, which in turn can induce feelings of depression, anxiety and hopelessness.

    Behavioral Effects

    • Drinking alcohol in children can have very negative effects on their behavior, causing them to lose sight of what is right or wrong, what is safe and what their own personal boundaries are. According to Drink Aware, drinking alcohol puts children at a greater risk of having unsafe sex and children who have been drinking are also more likely to engage in sex than when they are sober, say Kids Health. Alcohol can also induce aggressive and erratic behavior in children resulting in a greater vulnerability to being involved in crime, violence and other anti-social behaviors.

    Social Effects

    • Like adults, when children drink alcohol, they can lose their inhibitions, which for many, means overlooking or ignoring social boundaries. The effects are heightened in children who aren't able to handle alcohol as well as adults, which can in turn can have a negative impact on their social skills. For example, drinking alcohol could cause a child to become loud, obnoxious and unpleasant to be around, alienating friends and peers and creating friction in a social situation. Alternatively, for some children, alcohol might cause them to withdraw from social situations and prevent them from making social bonds with their peers which are crucial to a healthy and well-rounded life.

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