Underage Drinking

By Brittany Guthrie and Lacey Outten

At 16 years old, teenagers can drive. At 18 years old, teenagers are able to purchase lottery tickets and cigarettes at their own discretion. At 21 years old, the teenage years are officially left behind, and alcohol can be legally purchased and consumed. In reality though, these age restrictions fail to stop some teens from engaging in underage drinking. Nickolas Adams, a senior at Athens Academy, explains “Even though it is not very common at my school, underage drinking is definitely prevalent in certain social groups.” In contrast, Sydney Rosenberg, a junior at Riverwood High School in Atlanta, explains, “Underage drinking is extremely common at my school. Pretty much everyone I know at my school does [drink].” It seems as if the number of teens who drink vary across schools of Georgia. How and why does this generation of teenagers partake in underage drinking and what effects is underage drinking causing for this group of soon-to-be adults?

If the 21-years-old age restriction doesn’t prevent teenagers from getting their hands on alcohol, then how and where do they get it? According to Athens teens, there are many ways for minors to obtain alcohol. Some use a fake ID at gas stations to buy beer, while others steal liquor from their parents or have older siblings buy the alcohol. Sometimes older friends will also buy alcohol for the underage drinkers. Due to the legal consequences associated with providing alcohol to a minor, most parents follow the age restriction and rarely provide alcohol to their children and to their teen friends. However, many parents today grew up in a time when the legal age to consume alcohol was 18 years old, and some of these adults still believe that this should be the legal age to drink.

A trend taking effect earlier in age is securing a fake ID. These are becoming easier to find because of the teenage demand and the price teenagers are willing to pay. Most teenagers know of someone at their high school who can create a fake ID or older siblings or friends who will pass down a copy of their license. Some teens go so far as to ask strangers if they will purchase alcohol for them, taking the risk of approaching an undercover cop. Clearly alcohol is readily available for teenagers despite their age.

Underage alcohol consumption is most common at house parties. These parties are usually held at teenagers’ houses when parents go out of town or when older siblings are there to supervise. However, these siblings sometimes assist in providing alcohol to their guests and engage in drinking with minors as well. Teenagers rarely go to bars or pubs to drink.

Even though there is wide prevalence of underage drinking, there will always be some teens that choose not to drink in high school and some that do. According to Brooks Gallagher, a family counselor from Greenville, S.C., “In almost all cases, the two main factors that cause teens to consume alcohol are peer pressure and parental influence.” Some teens agree and say peer pressure is the sole reason they drink. Two teens at the same high school have different opinions as to why their peers drink. Riverwood student Sydney Rosenberg explains, “There usually is peer pressure, but the kids being pressured into it aren't upset about it. Usually everyone wants to get drunk unless they're driving. If a teen doesn't want a drink, they're usually not afraid to say no thanks.” In contrast, Carly Aronin, a freshman at Riverwood High School, gives her take on underage drinking, “People think they look cool if they drink a lot and get drunk. To avoid peer pressure, you just need to say no and go to a new group of friends wherever you are in order to avoid peer pressure.”

Even though certain social groups of teens choose to engage in the consumption of alcohol, peer pressure is not considered a problem among some of the teens at Athens Academy. “I believe there is some pressure for underage teens to drink, but it isn't like the drinking teens go up to people and tell them to,” explains Athens Academy senior Dylan Schulte. “Teens usually avoid the pressure by hanging with other teens who don't drink or just do something else, distract the fact that the teens are drinking.”

Once teens are in group situations where everyone is drinking, negative consequences are more likely to happen. The obvious consequence teenagers face is drinking and driving. Most teens understand the seriousness of drinking and driving, so they try to plan a safe way to get home after a night of drinking. Carly Aronin, a freshman at Riverwood High School, clarifies, “More teens are getting killed these days in car crashes because of drinking and driving. After parties, the teens usually go home with a friend who has not been drinking that night or call their parents to pick them up.” Other negative consequences include sexual situations with unfamiliar partners or dabbling in various drugs. Unfortunately teens will oftentimes find themselves in an unfavorable situation due to heavy consumption of alcohol.

Measures have to be taken to try to prevent the rampant occurrence of underage drinking. Schools plan informational or motivational speakers on the topic of underage drinking. Riverwood High School has Red Ribbon Week and brought in J. Tom Morgan who wrote “Ignorance is No Defense, A Teenager’s Guide to Georgia Law.” Junior Sydney Rosenberg describes his speech, “[He] actually gave great advice about how to stay out of trouble while being in a situation with underage drinking.” These speakers seem to be having a positive effect on students. Carly Aronin says of Riverwood High School’s drug-free week speaker, “I’m pretty sure he influenced the whole entire school by the stories he told and the laws and the stupidest things teens can do that get them arrested and go to jail.”

According to Athens Academy senior Nickolas Adams, the issue of alcohol consumption is discussed in health classes. Also, student body leaders and other well-respected figures within the school are encouraged to speak to the fellow students about the risk and dangers of underage drinking. These students are positive role models for the rest of the school. Apparently the trend of underage drinking differs between schools. The factors that cause teenagers to drink also vary. However, schools across the region are addressing the issue of underage drinking and are attempting to provide guidance for teenagers.