This sends a conflicting message to the young person, that drinking is permissible at an earlier age than 21. Scientists conclude that early drinking by adolescents increases the lifetime likelihood of alcohol dependence, and that overall drinking levels in a society are directly linked to drinking problems (NIAA p. 2). The peers of an individual can also have a strong influence upon drinking habits. A person is likely to behave according to their friends’ standards in order fit in and be accepted. If peers encourage others to drink alcohol underage, often teens will drink to feel more accepted by their peers.
In a sense it acts as a factor of reverse psychologically, by making the alcohol illegal to youth, it tempts them to want to drink even more. In few studies it shows that children who are not being subjected to not drink alcohol, actually do not need protection from such laws. These children have freedom to learn the ways of drinking in the comfort of their own homes and not deal with the stress of hiding drinking habits by family. Also with being allowed to drink at home, it prevents the youth from learning dangerous drinking habits from peers, when rather their have adult figures to guide them with their drinking. They learn how to control their drinking and what to expect from the effects of the alcohol (Nayak 141-142).
Assess the nature and extent of the relationship between alcohol and crime. Alcohol does not always cause crime but the relationship between alcohol and crime has been an issue for many years. Since the 19th century, more critical attitudes towards drinking began to emerge and studies have continued to show the deterioration of the nation’s drinking habits. This essay will evaluate and discuss the UKs drinking habits, young people and alcohol and the consequences of drinking, how drinking will cause young people to offend, how the media portrays crime and alcohol and some policies and action plans that have been put in place to tackle crime caused by alcohol. Alcohol may not necessarily cause people to commit crimes, but it plays a big part in people’s attitudes towards alcohol and how it may affect an individual when out drinking with friends or at home and how it may cause violence in a household.
In 2009, there were 10,389 fatalities in the United States alone due to drinking and driving. Lowering the drinking age could be beneficial for the United States in saving more lives. Teens tend to drink due to peer pressure. Peer pressure can then lead to drinking and driving. Since teens generally like to be sneaky if they have been doing illegal things, they try to hide being intoxicated.
The drinking age isn't meant to be a big deal, but the first couple years of lowering the drinking age could cause many students to be reckless. There are many responsibilities that come along with drinking at a low age, most importantly drinking and driving. Lowering the age will reduce all such problems, but at first will seem extremely hectic. Lowering the current drinking age of 21-and-over will allow young Americans, most of who are perfectly capable of drinking responsibly; to no longer drink in private or in short amounts of time, thus alleviating potentially dangerous conditions. Drinking privately is extremely unsafe and when kids are in a situation they can't handle, they can then ask for help.
The adolescents do not take time to critically think about the consequence of the risky behaviors. Adults, on the other hand, take time to evaluate the consequences of such behaviors, and this explains why only a few adults engage in risky behaviors. Since adults and adolescents think and reason about risk in the same way, psychologists believe that the age differences in getting involved in risky behaviors is a result of the information differences adults and adolescents use in making decisions. Efforts to minimize adolescents’ risk taking aimed at altering their attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, have not been successful. However, providing
So in turn society is thought to be socially built based upon human interpretations. These interpretations are often called definition of the situation. An example of definitions of the situation would be underaged drinking. Teens are often educated of the risk and dangers of underaged drinking, but yet they think it’s cool to have just one drink and no harm will come from it. Teens may also think that drinking that one drink will display a positive image on theirs peers.
When parents are aware of alcohol use by their adolescent children, but do nothing about it, the adolescent will interpret the lack of parental control as consent and approval of the conduct (Luthar, 2008, p. 608). Likewise, exposure to movies (the adolescent’s macrosystem) which provide favorable images of people who drink, have a similar effect (Gerrard, 2008, p. 46). Movie characters are also frequently shown drinking
This may cause them to land up being in a situation like the one presented in the two adverts. They do not reflect my experience of alcohol as I myself do not drink excessively. I believe that one should respect the age limit of drinking as it is there for a reason. However I do believe that both these adverts apply to teenagers all around the world as it's not just British teens getting drunk but it's teenagers from all around the world who face the same
Therefore, the social cost of alcohol is greater than the private cost. These factors give a justification for government intervention to deal with some issues related to alcohol, by putting an age limit on its use. The first reason why the drinking age should not be lowered is the obvious health issue. Despite popular belief, the drinking age was not only set to prevent teens from drinking and making bad decisions. It was set because teenagers can develop serious health issues.