Drinking in childhood is a serious problem

Alcohol has a negative impact on health. Alcohol can damage every organ in your body, including your developing brain. Alcohol can affect your ability to co-ordinate movements, memory, and judgement.

In addition to its negative impact on health, alcohol use among youth can lead to violence, risky sexual behavior, poor performance in school, alcohol-related driving incidents, and other harmful behaviors. Youth drinking alcohol has also been found to cause youthful deaths by drowning, suicide, and homicide. Children who drink alcohol before the age of 15 years are five times more likely than those who start after age 21 to develop a bad drinking habit.

Children and Teens Who Drink

Certain behaviors may indicate alcohol abuse, especially if the behavior occurs suddenly or seems extreme.

Mental Changes

Memory lapses
Poor concentration

Emotional Changes

Mood changes, flare-ups, irritability, and defensiveness
A “nothing matters” attitude

Physical Changes

Low energy
Bloodshot eyes
Lack of coordination
Slurred speech

Behavioral Changes

School problems, poor attendance, low grades, and/or recent disciplinary action.
Rebelling against family rules.
Switching friends, along with a reluctance to let you get to know the new friends.
Sloppy appearance
A lack of involvement in former interests

Long-term effects include

Diseases of the liver such as cirrhosis and cancer
Loss of appetite
Serious vitamin deficiencies
Stomach ailments
Heart and central nervous system damage
Memory loss
An increased risk of impotence
High risk for overdosing

Why do children and teens drink?

There are many things that influence a young person to drink: peer pressure, curiosity, to be popular, to feel like a grown up to name just a few.

Drinking alcohol interferes with a person’s perception of reality and ability to make good decisions. This is a dangerous situation for children and teens who typically have less problem solving abilities and experience to make decisions than adults.

Drinking and driving is one of the biggest killers of adolescents.