DRINKING OVERVIEW

(Download Drinking overview as a PDF)

Nobody working with young people would dispute the fact that alcohol is a serious problem among youth. It combines with driving as a too-often lethal combination. It is frequently an attendant factor in date or party rapes. It is often part of youth violence. And it is often present in suicides or fatalities in drug over-doses or drug reactions.

Studies (Monitoring the Future) in the U.S. show young people drinking at a younger age and drinking more especially throughout college years. A national survey of students in 116 U.S. colleges and universities found an increase in both the frequency and consumption of alcohol.

• In 1993, 39.4% of students said they drank to get drunk.
• In 1997, 52.3% of students said they drank to get drunk.
• In 1997 alone, 34 students died on campuses solely from heavy drinking.

Not all students drink, but an increasing number of junior high students have; most students do by the time they finish high school, and many college initiations and events are tied to excessive drinking.

The trends in U.S. youth drinking are interesting. In 1996, 55% of eighth graders, 72% of 10th graders and 79% of 12th graders (17-18 years of age) had tried alcohol. The proportion of 12th graders having a drink in the past month peaked in 1978-1980 at about 72% , but then declined and stabilized at about 50% having drunk in the past month during the latter 1990s. (Monitoring the Future)

Of most concern is the increase in binge drinking, defined as consuming five or more drinks at one sitting within the last two weeks. Among 8th graders, binge drinking is rising—from 12.9% in 1991 to 15.6% in 1996. Among 12th graders there was a decrease in binge drinking to 30.2% in 1993, but it rose back to 30.2% by 1996. More than 75% of 8th graders and 90% of 10th graders find it easy to get alcohol. (See the Wexler studies, 1993 and 1997)

Across the U.S., there is wide divergence in the way colleges and universities treat drinking. On a few conservative religious campuses, students must pledge not to drink. Some Christian colleges do not allow drinking on campus but acknowledge student drinking off campus. Boston area schools reacted to the highly publicized deaths of students like Scott Krueger (of MIT) that they have established a 50-point pact:

• First year students will live in alcohol-free dorms.
• Alcohol will be banned from fraternity and sorority rush-events.

There is still a great divergence among colleges with restrictive measures and those with open acceptance of drinking as a college norm and forced binge drinking events as "youthful pranks." In some places, fraternities have been closed down because of dangerous drinking practices.

There are several attitudes toward drinking generally:

• Abstainers, those who do not drink.
• Those who will take one drink at a meal.
• Those who drink a couple of drinks during an evening.
• Those who drink to get slightly high or very drunk.
• Alcoholics who cannot go through a day without a drink.

Attitudes about drinking also vary according to cultures and regions. In Europe, most people drink socially or at meals. Among Muslims and conservative Christians, drinking is not allowed. In East Africa, for instance, there is strong opposition to drinking alcohol especially among church-goers. In many cultures and situations a strong case can be made for abstinence in regards to alcohol.

From abstinence, there are many who drink socially and carefully...which usually amounts to one or two drinks at an evening meal. Others will go on to "nurse a drink or more" or even to overindulge throughout the evening.

High school and university students are not usually "social" or meal-time drinkers. They drink with their friends socially to get high and sometimes to get drunk. In some cases young people have admitted they need a drink to go into a social situation, and when they get there drinking often continues. It is in such contexts that drinking can often lead to fatal accidents or forced sexual encounters.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1. Do you drink? Why not? Or under what circumstances and in what ways do you drink?
2. Do you know anyone whose drinking habits make you afraid of possible dangerous consequences...or that he or she might slip into alcoholism? How can such a person be prevented from becoming an alcoholic?
3. Do you know of any youthful alcoholics? How did it come about and what can be done about it after a person is really an alcoholic?
4. Given the many fatal or long-term negative affects of excessive drinking, would you approve of a ban on alcohol...at the junior high level? For high school students? For colleges and universities? Would this ban cover only public events or would it try to apply to private parties as well?
5. Do you favor a program like AA or Alateens?

IMPLICATIONS

1. Drinking and alcoholism are serious problems among teenagers and those in their twenties. It might be argued that alcohol is involved in most juvenile deaths and rapes.
2. Prohibitions and bans are not the most effective ways to deal with adolescent problems like drinking. They may at in some cases be necessary...to prevent initiations that force freshmen to drink until they pass out, for instance. But there must be a way to empower young people to decide that alcohol is not a necessary part of social interaction and good times. Like smoking, teenage drinking, must be seen in terms of its ugly consequences as well as "being cool." Above all, young people need to be committed to healthy life styles.
3. Continue this study with the topic, Alcohol.