Myths and Facts About Alcohol Use

You probably see and hear a lot about alcohol-from TV, movies, music, and your friends.  But what are the real facts about underage alcohol use?

Myth: Alcohol isn't as harmful as other drugs.
Fact: Alcohol increases your risk for many deadly diseases, such as cancer.  Drinking too much alcohol too quickly can lead to alcohol poisoning, which can kill you.

Myth:  Drinking is a good way to loosen up at parties.
Fact:  Drinking is a dumb way to loosen up.  It can make you act silly, say things you shouldn't say, and do things you wouldn't normally do (like get into fights).

Myth:  Drinking alcohol will make me cool.
Fact:  There's nothing cool about stumbling around, passing out, or puking on yourself.  Drinking alcohol also can cause bad breath and weight gain.

Myth:  All of the other kids drink alcohol.  I need to drink to fit in.
Fact:  If you really want to fit in, stay sober.  Most young people don't drink alcohol.  Research shows that more than 70% of youth age 12 to 20 haven't had a drink in the past month.

Myth:  I can sober up quickly by taking a cold shower or drinking coffee.
Fact:  On average, it takes 2 to 3 hours for a single drink to leave the body.  Nothing can speed up the process, not even drinking coffee, taking a cold shower, or "walking it off."

Myth:  Adults drink, so kids should be able to drink too.
Fact:  A young person's brain and body are still growing.  Drinking alcohol can cause learning problems or lead to adult alcoholism.  People who begin drinking by age 12 are 5 times more likely to abuse or become dependant on alcohol than those who begin drinking after age 20.2

Myth:  Beer and wine are safer than liquor.
Fact:  Alcohol is alcohol.  It can cause you problems no matter how you consume it.  One 12-ounce bottle of beer or a 5- ounce glass of wine (about half a cup) has as much alcohol as 1.5 ounce shot of liquor.  Alcopops- sweet drinks laced with malt liquor- often contain more alcohol than beer!

Myth:  I can drink alcohol and not have any problems.
Fact:  If you're under 21, drinking alcohol is a big problem:  it's illegal.  If caught, you may have to pay a fine, perform community service, or take alcohol awareness classes.  Kids who drink also are more likely to get poor grades in school and are at higher risk for being a crime victim.

Ways to Say "NO"

Saying "no" to your friends can be very hard sometimes.  You may be afraid of what they'll think of you if you don't go along with them.  Here is a ggood way to say "no" and still be cool.

1. Say what the problem is (that's mean, or that's illegal).
2. Say what the consequences are (Mom will ground me for life).
3. Suggest something to do instead (Let's play some basketball).
4. If your friends insist on doing it anyway, leave.  But leave the door open for them to change their minds and join you.

Sometimes you can make it easier on yourself by preparing in advance for a possible pressure situation.  Here are some things you can do ahead of time.
-Think ahead and plan for possible problems.
-Decide in advance what you intend to do.
-Think of some good ways to handle the situation if it arises, or some good ways to avoid the situation altogether.

Consequneces of Underage Drinking

Youth who drink alcohol are more likely to experience...

• School problems, such as higher absence and poor or failing grades.
• Social problems, such as fighting and lack of participation in youth activities.
• Legal problems, such as arrest for driving or physically hurting someone while drunk.
• Physical problems, such as hangovers or illness.
• Disruption of normal growth
• Higher risk for suicide and homicide.
• Alcohol-related car crashes and other unintentional injuries, such as burns, falls and drowning.
• Memory problems.
• Abuse of other drugs.
• Changes in brain development that may have life-long effects.
• Death from alcohol poisoning.
• Underage drinking is a leading contributor to death from injuries, which are the main cause of death for people under age 21.
• Annually, about 5,000 people under age 21 die from alcohol-related injuries involving underage drinking.
• About 1,900 (38%) of the 5,000 deaths involve motor vehicle crashes, about 1,600 932%) result from homicides, and about 300 (6%) are caused by suicides.

In general, the risk of youth experiencing these problems is greater for those who binge drink than for those who do not binge drink.
youth who start drinking before age 15 years are 5 times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who begin drinking at or after age 21.