Underage drinking has long been
a problem among the youth. Its easy accessibility is a common choice for a
cheap, quick “high.” Young, inexperienced drinkers do not know their body’s
limits, and they often “binge drink”; that its, they drink copious
amounts of liquor or beer in a short amount of time, thus putting themselves
and others in extreme danger. This impulsive behavior causes impaired judgment, which
frequently leads to drinking and driving, violence, and sexual activity. Because of the choices of these
drunken teenagers, and the frequency and severity of its repercussions,
underage binge drinking has become one of our country’s fastest growing
epidemics.
Evidence of binge
drinking can date back all the way to the Stone Age (Vallely). Beer jugs from the Neolithic
period have been discovered (1).
Greeks and Romans also drank wine during ancient times (1). Romans would get their
rivals drunk in order to conquer and take over their land. Some ancient places used
alcohol as a form of medicine to help the sick and injured (1). Alcohol consumption and binge drinking
epidemics have taken place throughout history several times and last anywhere
from a few years to 30 years (1).
Alcohol epidemics have recently surfaced again and the problem continues to
grow across the nation.
“Binge drinking” is a term
that was published by The Times first
(Conell). The article the term first came from was published in 1969 and
focused on helping men who consumed alcohol at an unhealthy rate.
It suggested lending a hand and helping those who might not realize how much
alcohol they consume every day (1). During the 1990’s, the
term “binge drinking” began to seem increasingly more popular as scientist
began to research the topic and was given a set definition;
“drinking over half the recommended units for one week in a single session.”
In 1995, the term was redefined as drinking twice as much as the recommended
units (1).
During the 18th
century, a “Gin Craze” took place in Britain (18th Century Gin
Craze). Just as much outrage, health problems, and social problems took
place as they would today (1). The people during this
time believed gin was the cause of the increase in crime rate, depression, an
increase in death rates, violent acts, and prostitution (1).
Alcohol is America’s most
widely used drug (Binge Drinking). An addiction to alcohol is something
commonly found as well. People can become dependent on alcohol physically and
psychologically and feel as if they cannot operate properly without having a
certain amount of alcohol consumption. A standard “drink” is a
drink that is accommodated with 10 grams of alcohol in it according to the
National Health and Medical Research Council (1). The NHMRC also believes
that a male should not consume any more than seven drinks in one day and a
female should not consume more than 5 drinks in one day (1).
Otherwise, you are “risky” should a male or female chose to drink more.
Binge drinking can easily
cause problems to a person’s social well-being. Fights, arguments,
depression, addiction, and unsafe sex are just some of the consequences that
can affect someone’s social life (1). A person’s health is what
can more seriously be affected from binge drinking.
Weight gain, kidney damage, liver damage, stomach ulcers, and depression are
all serious outcomes of consistent alcohol consumption and binge drinking (1).
It takes four drinks to
begin binge drinking (1). By the age of sixteen, many Americans have already
tried consuming alcohol for the first time. The quickly learn that
you must control yourself in order to handle it. What most do not know is
how quickly you can start binge drinking. Injury and alcohol
poisoning are two very common consequences among high school student binge
drinkers. Drinking at that young of an age can also set you up for diseases and
complications as they grow older in life (1).
Throughout most
college campuses, alcohol consumption and binge drinking is something commonly
found. A survey
conducted by Henry
Wechsler, Andrea Davenport, George Dowdall, Barbara Moeykens, and Sonia
Castillo was done concluding the behavioral and health consequences of binge
drinking on college campuses (Health and Behavioral Consequences of Binge Drinking
in College). The objective of this survey was view the consequences a binge
drinker on a college campus experiences and the consequences others may face
from this habit (1). One hundred and forty colleges participated and
17,592 students participated in this event. The results concluded
that around 44% of these students were binge drinkers and of those students,
47% of them experienced binge drinking related issues from an excessive amount
of alcohol consumption (1). These results showed that
binge drinking is an omnipresent issue and more information on the negative
outcomes of binge drinking should be more readily available to students.
In 2015, Panama City Beach
in Florida had a spike in the amount of crime, violence, and underage drinking
during the Spring Break period (Csheets@al.com).
Police believe the outrageous acts were results from excessive alcohol
consumption and binge drinking among all the Spring Breakers (1).
Police soon realized under aged drinking was taking place as well.
Although it seems only negative outcomes came from this, businesses were
flourishing in profit (1). The money just kept rolling in with all the excessive
amounts of alcohol consumption.
Panama City Beach
officials found it extremely difficult to control the binge drinking problem
and, as a result, banned alcohol consumption for the 2016 season (1). There
was a tremendous decrease in the crime rate during the spring break season
during 2016, but businesses were not left happy. Because spring breakers
only believe they can have fun consuming alcohol, people did not travel to
Panama City Beach to celebrate (1). Businesses and
restaurants in the area did not have near as much income as they usually did
and found it very frustrating that police and city officials took the issue to
that extent. The goal was to reduce the amount of alcohol related crimes but
ultimately, businesses took more of a hit than anything (1).
Reducing binge
drinking throughout America has to have support from all sides of the epidemic. The ones who are addicted
to alcohol and feel as if they cannot function without alcohol consumption need
to take a step forward and realize the damage they are doing to their body. They must first be able to admit to themselves what is happening
and do something about it.
The binge drinkers
who are old enough to purchase their own alcohol must invest their money in
something that is better for the body and better for their own well being. The ones who supply
underage binge drinkers with alcohol to consume just have to simply stop being
a provider. Parents need to keep an eye on the alcohol
they keep in the house and around their underage children. Police and city officials all over the country need to take a
step forward. Stricter laws could be written and enforced.
The laws we have now need to actually be strictly enforced.
Throughout college
campuses, more information should be readily provided to students who are
enrolled there. With the statistics that are provided, one
would think that had already happened across the nation. A class could be offered throughout high schools or colleges
that provides students with facts, statistics, and real life examples of the
causes and effects of binge drinking and alcohol consumption (Health and Behavioral
Consequences of Binge Drinking in College). Students need
this type of information to really see just how damaging binge drinking and the
consequences caused from binge drinking can be (1).
Panama City Beach
officials did not need to go to that extent of banning alcohol consumption
throughout the city (Csheets@al.com) . Police officers
just needed to do a better job of enforcing the law. A reduction in violence and crime rate would have happened as
well without any businesses falling behind in profit (1).
Binge drinking has
become more of an epidemic over these past years because of the lack of
attention the situation is getting. If handled
properly, excessive alcohol consumption would not be much of an issue at all. Excessive drinking only puts people at risk for health and
social issues. Alcohol has become the only source of “fun”
for some people and its easy availability is convenient for these people. Because of the repetitive choice to binge drink and consume
extreme amounts of alcohol, this has become one of the nation’s fastest growing
epidemics.
"18th
Century Gin Craze." HISTORY. N.p., 17 Feb. 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2016.
"Binge
Drinking." Youth Central. N.p., 5 Dec. 2015. Web. 11 May 2016.
Cornell,
Martyn. "Binge Drinking: A Brief History." Zythophile. N.p., 02 June 2008. Web. 12 May 2016.
Csheets@al.com,
Connor Sheets |. "Panama City Beach Spring Break Is 'dead' as Beach Drinking Ban Drives Partiers Away." AL.com. N.p., 17 Mar.
2016. Web. 11 May 2016.
"Health
and Behavioral Consequences of Binge Drinking in College." JAMA Network. N.p., 7
Dec. 1994. Web. 11 May 2016.
Vallely,
Paul. "2,000 Years of Binge Drinking." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 18 Nov. 2005. Web. 12 May 2016.
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