Peering into Alcohol

Every Monday morning at school, you probably hear stories of some wild party that took place over the weekend. No doubt, those stories include a lot of drinking and drugs, with teens believing they had endless fun “getting wasted.” While they may not remember what happened, they claim they had a great time!

How do you react to such stories? And what are the facts about teens and alcohol? Your future—both spiritual and physical—hinges on the answers.

No matter what country you live in, chances are, you have friends who drink alcohol. And when they do, it is probably for the purpose of getting drunk.

You may have been pressured into drinking. In every case, the best way to arm yourself against such pressure is to get the facts—the truth. This article lays out the facts about alcohol and its abuse.

Each year, governments spend millions of dollars to combat alcohol abuse among teens. Television ads and store campaigns teach retailers not to sell to those who are under the legal drinking age. Yet we continue to read sensational news reports about youth alcohol abuse. Mass media attention is not changing the conditions and trends involving alcohol—it is merely bringing public awareness to a problem that is seemingly too big to solve.

Society’s attitude toward alcohol is changing. Notice this television ad campaign for a popular beer: More than a decade ago, the slogan for Michelob Beer was “Weekends are made for Michelob.” Shortly after that, the ad was updated to “Put a little weekend in your week.” The latest ads say, “The night belongs to Michelob.” In just ten years, alcohol has been transformed from a weekend activity into a nightly habit. If you are in high school, you have probably witnessed such attitudes firsthand.

And teen alcohol abuse leads to alcoholism as an adult. This begins a deadly cycle that destroys homes and marriages, and creates a wrong example, often causing children in such homes to abuse alcohol themselves.

The Role of Parents

Alcoholism affects youths more than most would imagine. When raised in a family that tolerates alcohol abuse, a child begins to develop unhealthy attitudes toward alcohol. He sees no fault in using it excessively, nor does he feel any need to exercise control. Because of this, children raised in such homes are four times more likely to become alcoholics than children raised in homes without such influences!

Mounting evidence now also points to genetics. Children of alcoholics may be born with a genetic predisposition to alcoholism. It has been documented that alcohol, especially in excess, causes irreversible changes to the body. These new studies show that children can inherit these changes from their parents.

But this must not be used as an excuse.

Some children are born with “short fuses” and must overcome anger. Others constantly struggle with obesity and must fight gluttony. Similarly, children of alcoholics are born with a tendency toward alcoholism. They may also have to learn proper conduct from improper parents. There are two types of examples. A good one, to imitate—or a bad one, to avoid. A bad example can help a child overcome supposedly “bad genes,” by showing them how not to behave.

When you combine predisposition and an alcoholic household, it should not come as a shock that nearly one-third of all alcoholics have at least one parent who is also an alcoholic. Often, these children were exposed to alcohol even before birth.

Those who are always ready to party are often the same ones who have not seen the right example at home and who may be well on their way to alcoholism. Your example can influence them more than you know.

Alcohol and Youth

Alcohol has a strong pull on you! Advertising and media present a very glamorous picture—sipping martinis, “partying it up” with friends. But they seldom show alcohol’s dark side.

This makes it more acceptable and causes youth to begin consuming it at ever-younger ages—so young that 40 percent of fifth-graders across the country have tried alcohol. Some of these pre-teens have even reported binge drinking. As children enter their teen years, the numbers become more dramatic.

By the time they have finished eighth grade, 56 percent have tried alcohol. The more alarming statistic? Fifteen percent have reported heavy drinking—binge drinking five or more times in the previous 30 days. This has an immediate effect on a child’s development and health. And, as the trend dictates, drinking becomes even heavier as children enter high school.

By high school graduation, 80 percent of students have tried alcohol; over a quarter of them report heavy drinking. They also report alcohol-related health problems. This constant bombardment of alcohol into their developing system explains why nearly one out of every five teenagers reports “blackout” spells—not remembering some (or any) of the previous night.

Statistics show that a pattern has been formed in high school. Yet these trends among adolescents and teenagers pale in comparison to trends among college students.

Drowning in College

Many have heard of first-year college students being overwhelmed—drowning in their schoolwork. But more and more students are replacing schoolwork with beer. They are literally drowning their systems in alcohol. Drinking has become so severe that it is killing 1,400 students every year! College kids are three times as likely to indulge in binge drinking or heavy drinking if they did so in high school.

A recent Harvard University study reported some shocking facts. The once male-dominated ritual of binge drinking is no longer gender-biased. Women on campuses across the U.S. “are not just drinking more; they’re drinking ferociously” (Time, “Women and Drink,” Patrick Kilcarr).

Since 1993, colleges have seen a 125 percent increase in binge drinking by women. Sororities report that 80 percent of their members are binge drinkers. This has not come without consequences. A 2001 Syracuse study reported that twice as many women (as men) were rushed to hospitals with alcohol poisoning.

Although the numbers for women are rising to unprecedented levels, they are not yet equal with men. More than 50 percent of men have reported binge drinking. The highest levels were in fraternities, reporting numbers as high as 86 percent.

This is having direct repercussions on students. Frequent binge drinkers are 21 times more likely to have problems related to drinking. Failing classes or flunking out of college is the least of their problems. The Harvard study estimated that drinking was responsible for over 500,000 injuries and 70,000 cases of sexual assault or date rape. It also reported that 400,000 students are having unprotected sex resulting from drinking. Female drinkers reported a 150 percent increase in unplanned sexual activities, date rape and sexual assault. These increases contribute directly to the steady rise in sexually-transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancy on college campuses.

We have seen that alcohol abuse begins as early as age five. It becomes worse throughout high school. Then, it explodes in college. The peak occurs at age 21. Now legally able to drink, 65 percent of students report heavy drinking.

The most concerning statistic is their denial of over-consumption. More than 90 percent of binge and heavy drinkers consider themselves moderate or light drinkers. Denial is one of the first warning signs that someone is becoming an alcoholic.

Widespread Problem

North America is not alone in the problem of alcoholism. Almost every country is experiencing problems with it. Many are far worse than the United States.

On February 21, 2001, European health ministers met to discuss the worsening problem of alcoholism in Europe. They began developing policies to reduce the growing percentages of youth drinking, because the problem is out of control. In all deaths involving youth, one in four are caused by alcohol!

Russia’s problem is far worse. There, vodka is often associated with health and well-being. Many children drink—and sell—vodka! Its association with prosperity and hope, in a country devoid of both, has caused this catastrophic problem. On average, 160 young people die from alcohol poisoning EVERY DAY!

Are you beginning to see how alcohol is not as harmless as it is made out to be? It can literally destroy your physical—and spiritual—life!

Fighting Peer Pressure

The most difficult thing you will fight as a teen is peer pressure. While those two words look so simple on paper, actually defeating the pressure of your friends can seem monumental. But you can do it! Your ability to resist something is related to your will. A strong will allows you to set your mind to something and follow through.

The Bible refers to willpower as temperance (self-control). The reason you may notice that your peers in the world lack this very willpower is that temperance is a fruit of God’s Spirit (Gal. 5:23). Unlike your friends, you have direct access to God’s help by His Spirit (I Cor. 7:14). Remember to ask God to help you fight peer pressure—to give you the willpower to resist the pulls of this world.

Moderation in All Things

Of and by itself, drinking wine and other alcohol is not sinful pleasure. There are many times when Christ approved of it. His actions and words set the example that Christians must follow.

God expects us to use alcohol wisely. And He also expects us to obey man’s laws. Drinking of itself is not wrong or sinful—but it is wrong to break man’s laws when doing so! The bottle is not the problem—it is the person holding the bottle!

As with food, money or anything that has the potential for misuse, moderation is the Bible standard for all true Christians. Paul wrote, “every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things” (I Cor. 9:25), and “Let your moderation be known unto all men” (Phil. 4:5).

Do you drink alcohol when your parents offer you some? Or do you sneak it with friends, knowing your parents would not approve? Remember the Fifth Commandment! God attaches a long life to obeying your parents.

As you grow older, something should change in your attitude. No longer should your parents need to directly tell you right from wrong. Years of exposure to right examples and teachings should have led you to know what they would approve of—and what they would not. And, in turn, what GOD would approve of.

But there is something else you will want to consider. As you read above, when a parent sets a wrong example, children often follow that example. Always consider the example you are setting to those younger than yourself. Like your peers, they are watching you more than you know!

Look to God

Alcohol abuse is a catastrophic problem in the world! It tears apart families, marriages and lives. The billions spent each year are failing to combat it. As world conditions grow worse, more will use alcohol as an escape—with more lives lost and families destroyed.

But you can resist it!

This world accepts many sins. Often, what is simply sin is called a “syndrome”—or a “disease.” Labeling such things as alcoholism a “disease” relieves the drinker of the need to take personal responsibility for his actions. Unlike the flu, you do not “catch” alcoholism—you choose it!

Society will always make excuses for sin. But God’s Word declares that no drunkards “shall inherit the kingdom of God” (I Cor. 6:9-10).

Alcoholism is sin. God would never bar someone from His kingdom because of a disease! If alcoholism were merely a disease, He would heal it (Psa. 103:3)—not command against it! God heals diseases—not choices. The choice is yours to make.

You can withstand peer pressure to drink. You can exercise moderation in all aspects of your life. Look to your family for support and guidance. They have experienced many of the same things you struggle with today.

But most of all, look to God! Ask Him in prayer and He can give you the understanding, hope and power to overcome all the pulls of this world.