Are todays teenagers drinking more than their parents did, 20 or 30 years ago?

   Teenagers pass through a time of turbulence. Intense pressures to perform and succeed are felt by many youths, according to the book, ‘Alcohol’ by Judy Monroe. In the December 2001 Edition of the Time Magazine, Rebecca Macfie wrote an article which states the causes of Teenage Alcoholism. She expressed psychological and social reasons for teenage drinking. Deep psychological reasons like ‘avoiding tensions and worries’, ‘reducing anxiety’ or ‘wanting to act like an adult’ were some of the aspects that she came across. The key social reasons that she suggested were, that they drank alcohol for the buzz of having a good time, to that happy feeling, to relax and to celebrate. According to my survey which, I conducted in the school, 60% of pupils suggested that peer pressure and depression were the primary causes of teenage alcoholism.

The images of drunken teenage mayhem seem to be everywhere. It all looks like a parent’s worst nightmare. Rebecca Macfie, who wrote an article in the Time Magazine, states the problems caused by teenage alcoholism in New Zealand. From rioting North Shore Youths, vandalising property and pelting police with beer bottles, to the murder of two teenagers in Avonside Girls High School in Christchurch. Another problem that has risen in New Zealand is drink–driving. Recently in the TV2 news, the reporter reported, that about 75% of adults and teens were drink driving in Christchurch on September 29th 2003. Most of them were fined, some were arrested and some had to do community service for months. I agree with a student whom I interviewed, who commented on this issue that alcohol is the most used and abused drug in the world, and for this reason we have alcohol related problems.

Some of the solutions to alcoholism were seen from the internet under the subject ‘Women’s Health’. Increasing the tax of alcohol and the cost of drinks, providing education in school about the bad effects of alcohol, labelling drinks with health warnings, restricting alcohol consumption at work or at sporting events, and running health promotion campaigns on the risks of alcoholism. In my opinion, the best way of reducing the risk of any problem with alcohol is to stay below the recommended drinking levels.  In many ways, withdrawal is the easy part of stopping drinking. There are professionals who offer support to alcoholics. Counselling can take many forms, including group therapy, behavioural therapy, social skills and training and stress management. Medication can also be used to help to prevent relapse. Self-help groups are commonly used and recommended to assist recovering alcoholics to stay off drink. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the most well-known.  I believe that all it requires of an alcoholic to stop drinking is to recognize the existence of the problem and be willing to grapple with it.