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Side Effects of Drinking Under Age 21

Underage drinking is a public-health problem that can lead to severe physical, mental, and legal consequences for the youth engaging in the activity. While adolescents may drink for positive mental or social side effects, the negative effects are numerous and may take years to show.

  1. Legal Consequences

    • If a person under the age of 21 is caught drinking (or in possession of) alcohol, they will most likely receive minor-in possession charges. Punishments and language describing an offense vary between states; however, the offense will always be a misdemeanor and is likely to end up on a person's permanent record. A minor in possession can receive punishments of fines, community service and a revoked license.

    Growth Hormones

    • Drinking alcohol before or during puberty can upset the body's hormonal balance, affecting the normal development of organs, muscles and bones. The hormonal changes during puberty in both males and females include sex hormones, estrogen, testosterone, and affect the reproductive system.

    Brain Development

    • While the brain is developing, even subtle internal changes caused by drinking can have long-lasting effects on memory and thinking. At this point, research can't determine how severe the side effects will be from heavy drinking during adolescence.

    Alcohol Tolerance

    • The growing adolescent brain can allow an underage drinker to consume larger amounts of alcohol in one sitting. The unusually high alcohol tolerance can lead to binge-drinking, long-lasting high tolerance and alcoholism.

    Fatalities

    • Approximately 5,000 people under the age of 21 die annually as a result of alcohol consumption. The highest number of youth alcohol-related deaths are from motor-vehicle accidents, followed by homicide, suicide and unintended accidents such as falls or burns.

    Risky Behavior

    • The brain develops well into a person's 20s, which could explain risky behavior associated with adolescents, and alcohol only intensifies those behaviors. Research from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows that underage binge-drinkers are more likely to try drugs and have sex with six or more partners, putting them at greater risk for STDs and pregnancy.

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