The Negative Effects Of Underage Drinking

drinking can have harmful effects on a developing brain (“Dangers of Teen Drinking” FTC). As

Intaking alcohol can be very risky and harmful to the brain. During the teen years or in early adulthood the human brain undergoes a large amount of time of development that is very important. If alcohol is present, it only takes thirty seconds for it to effect the brain and thus it begins to decreases that important development (Shannon). "Alcohol can effect parts of the

It could cause permanent damage on the brain too. The next argument in this section is that the drunk driving number went down when it was changed from 18 to 21 in the 1970’s. The author states “Across the country, alcohol-related car crashes among drivers aged 16 to 20 declined by 61% from 1982 to 1998, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).” The author then says “It has prevented scores of negative alcohol-related incidents in addition to car crashes, such as fights, alcohol overdoses and other types of accidents, they say, many of which never get reported and therefore are not reliably tracked.” Meaning that many of the statistics are not properly getting tracked so some are just not accounted for. The final argument he makes is about “the trickle down effect.” It states that if 18 high school students can purchase alcohol than they would be buying it for a bunch of younger kids in high school so they can drink. While it’s at 21 it’s a lot harder for a younger high school student to get alcohol from a 21 year

Alcohol has been severely damaging young individuals health both mentally and physically. Even though alcohol can be harmful at any age it is especially dangerous for teens as their brains are still developing and cannot cope with alcohol the same way as an adult can. When consumed

By avoiding alcohol before the age of 25 you could be saving many of your brain cells. People who drink before the age of 25 are putting their prefrontal cortex in danger. Your prefrontal cortex is the front part of your brain that helps you focus and stay organized. The legal age to drink is 21, but should be changed because people are killing their developing brain cells that they will not be able to get back. Drinking before your brain fully develops can cause irreversible brain damage. This essay will demonstrate how drinking before you are 25 can kill brain cells, damage your prefrontal cortex and get you to do things that you wouldn't want to do.

This is a proven fact. According to LiveScience.com, “"The brain of an 18-year-old college freshman is still far from resembling the brain of someone in their mid-twenties," said Craig Bennett” (Than). Eighteen year olds do not know how to control themselves when it comes to alcohol. They drink very irresponsibly, never knowing when to stop. At twenty-one most people have gone through it enough, that they know their limits and when to stop. Teenagers are not mature enough to make good decisions about alcohol. When one is at the age of eighteen, the brain is still developing and growing. When at the age of twenty-one the brain is pretty much done developing. Most eighteen year olds are either in high school about to graduate or already out. The majority of eighteen year olds go to college and since it is their first year, they usually go to a lot of parties and try to enjoy themselves. At twenty-one, the majority of people are in college and trying to get an education to make a career out of it. They usually have already done the whole party scene and are settling down and getting serious. Some eighteen year olds are still in high school, this would make it easier for younger high school kids to access alcohol. This would be dangerous not only for the kids but the eighteen year olds as well. This could get them in a lot of trouble with the law. This proves that twenty-one year olds are more mature than eighteen year

Dahl states that the brain develops throughout adolescence. During this time, the speed that neurons are able to travel within the brain increases (US Department of Human Health and Services (DHHS)). The speed of neurons affects the ability to call judgement and control emotions during a situation. Since adolescents under twenty-one are not able to fully make proper and wise decisions, they should not be allowed to make a decision such as to drink or to be trusted in making a good decision after drinking. Additionally, studies show that drinking before the brain fully develops is harmful and potentially causes permanent effects such as cognitive defects and incomplete development (US Federal Trade Commision (FTC)). Barring alcohol from people under the age of twenty-one protects them from future damage. Therefore they should not be allowed to partake in alcohol consumption until their brains are safely and fully developed.

Studies have shown that the developing adolescent frontal cortex is much more sensitive to damage than the adult frontal cortex, even with the same amount of alcohol” (Binge Drinking in Adolescence Can Hinder Adjustment to Adulthood). Crew’s explained that: “brain scans performed on rats showed that adolescent binge drinking in rats led to a smaller forebrain volume and size. The animals also showed significantly less behavioral flexibility compared to those that weren’t exposed to alcohol” (Dangers of College Binge Drinking)The study also found “reductions in the activity of neurotransmitter genes 24 hours after binge-drinking in adolescent animals. As adults, the animals showed even greater reductions, averaging 73 percent” (Dangers of College Binge Drinking). Dr. Crews said that their findings suggest that people who drink heavily during adolescence could be more likely to have “difficulty adapting successfully to changing life situations as adults, possibly because of changes to the frontal cortex, the part of the brain that is associated with predicting consequences, impulse control, reasoning, and long- and short-term rewards” (Dangers of College Binge Drinking). When a person is 21 or older their body and brain are completely

First, the drinking age should remain at 21 because drinking at a young age is specifically harmful to teens. Drugs such as alcohol have an effect on all users, regardless the person’s age; however, alcohol can have an especially harmful effect on teens since their bodies are still developing. Studies have shown that alcohol has numerous negative effects on a teen’s body and mental health; for example, a study conducted by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention stated that “alcohol consumption affects the brain’s frontal lobes, which is essential for functions such as emotional regulations, planning, and organization” (“Age”). Teens already have high emotions and troubles planning and organizing; alcohol will only enhance teens’ struggle of planning and organizing. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention also found that alcohol consumption at a young age can potentially cause chronic problems such as memory loss, depression, increase in suicide, and poor decision making (“Age”). Teens have a difficult enough time making decision and trying to organize their lives, but adding

Drinking among teenagers is prone to cause long term damages in their life. At the adolescent stage, teenagers brain are still developing up until the they are in the 20’s. It is a fact that alcohol causes brain damages to anyone who consumes it but because of this occurrence in adolescent’s body,they are more affected by this. According to Saner in the article Health: Drunk young things: Teenage drinkers don 't just risk making fools of

There has been a large amount of research regarding underage drinking and the long-term effect that it can have on a person’s body and their mental state. The public is often informed of phases and activities that underage students are partaking in that can be extremely harmful to themselves that they are not aware of. In the journal article “The Use of Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages Among Underage Drinkers: Results of a National Survey” they examine the relationship between the tendencies underage drinkers who drink non-traditional caffeinated alcoholic beverages and traditionally caffeinated alcoholic beverages. The study defines non-traditional CABs as Pre-Mixed Sodas or Energy Drinks with Liquor added and defined traditional CABs as Liquor with soda, coffee, or tea added by the beverage consumer.

Alcohol is harmful to the development of younger people. Research has shown that an adult is less likely to binge drink (have five or more drinks in a row). According to statistics from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, teens become intoxicated twice as fast as adults. Because the teens get drunk faster they

Some may think that teenagers are grown up enough and are mature enough to drink alcoholic beverages at the age of eighteen. However, research indicates otherwise. To start off, alcohol is very harmful to the brain. It kills brain cells, and it affects the cerebellum, medulla, hippocampus and many other parts of the brain. It can be seen why alcohol is so dangerous in the article “Alcohol and Developing Brain”. The author says, “Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. Alcohol can appear to be a stimulant because, initially, it depresses the part of the brain that controls inhibitions” (toosmarttostart.samhsa.gov). Since

While alcohol may not be the most dangerous of drugs, it is harmful nonetheless. There have been many research studies done by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism that prove this to be true. Binge drinking is drinking with the purpose of getting drunk, and is the most common form of alcohol consumption while it is also the most dangerous. There have been numerous researches by other organizations and scientists that have demonstrated just how dangerous underage drinking can be. These facts cannot be denied and further the belief that underage drinking is very serious and dangerous. Not only does a person run the risk of being arrested for illegal activity, a person can also be harmed.

Alcohol can really affect the growing and developmental process for teens. It can stop the brain from developing really hurting them for the future. It can also hinder the maturation of new brain constituents. This means that the connectors between the brain and nerve cells can stop developing and old ones can be torn apart (Spear). This can lead to a change in the brains thinking making teens more inclined to try risky behaviors. Also the prefrontal cortex is altered from drinking. This makes memory and rule