Underage Drinking : Why teens are risking their lives for a beverage Many teens are engaging in drinking more and more as they reach higher grade levels and are taking a bigger risk. Adolescents who are taking the path of alcohol related activities are putting themselves and their lives in danger. “ Young people drink less frequently than adults, but when they do they drink more” according to The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Whether it’s at high school parties or the after prom bash, teens are actively and willingly choosing the option to drink illegally. “Why?” is question that is raised. Why do teens drink? People have their opinions on it, but these are the facts. Underage drinking comes down to a combination of technology and peer pressure. Now, when I say peer pressure, I’m stretching it. …show more content…
It never stops, all our social media friends are peers, even if they aren’t influencing us face-to-face. It’s the snapchats of a party with four different kinds of alcohol in their hands, or the tweets “best nite of my life #stilldrunk”. “Many young people believe that drinking helps them fit in, or believe that without alcohol, they won't have the confidence to take part in social situations.” According to the Australian Drug Foundation. Our generation sees peer pressure nonverbally anymore. It’s media influenced but not by celebrities or models, but by our so called friends. No one is praising the kid who is sober at the biggest party of the year ( Even though every party is the “biggest party of the year”, but anyways.) unless they are the designated driver for all the other kids who happened to fall under the pressure of their peers. It becomes especially hard for a teen who already has low self-esteem to resist the “Come out tonight, you’ll be one of us.” text. That instant sense of gratification for just going out with the guys and having a beer or two. The idea that they would suddenly