Alcohol and Teens
Karki 2 Alcohol and Teens Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, Jose Quervo, Budweiser, Bartles and James – the list goes on and on. These names all have one thing in common; Alcohol. Alcohol is the number one drug in America and is the most widely abused. Alcohol-related accidents are the leading cause of teenage deaths. So, why do most teenagers drink alcohol? ... “Alcohol is the common name for a substance known as ethyl alcohol, which is created through the process of fermentation.”(6) Alcohol is a drug and is as legal as an aspirin. Although, alcohol is legal, it is addicting and dangerous much like illegal drugs. Alcohol is a depressant and slows down the nervous system to alter the way one thinks, feels, and acts while under the influence. Various forms of beverages contain different amounts of alcohol, which is usually labeled by a percentage of proof. ... 5 % to 5 % of alcohol; the higher the percent of alcohol gets the harder the beverage is also known as “hard liquor. ... ”(3) The curiosity to experiment with alcohol is at its peak level due to the attractiveness of advertisement. We (society) have encouraged teenagers to drink alcohol. “In most recent surveys it shows 85% of teenagers have experimented with alcohol by the time they reach he 8th grade. ... “Binge drinking or ‘bingeing’ refers to consuming lots of alcohol within a very short time period-five or more drinks in a row, often within just a couple of hours.