When we’re in high school, we do not always consider the consequences of our actions. Underage drinking has become a big problem in South Africa, and teenagers are starting to take part in such activities from a very young age.
The short- and long-term effects are shocking in their range and magnitude.
This affects adolescents, the people around them and society as a whole. Underage drinking plays a significant role in risky sexual behaviour, including unwanted, unintended, and unprotected sexual activity, often with multiple partners. This increases the risk for unwanted pregnancy or contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Teens do not always realise the effect that drinking can have on their own lives, or that of their families and communities.
In 2009 about 10,4 million people aged 12 to 20 had had more than “just a few sips” of alcohol. As kids become older, they drink more. By age 15, half of teens have had at least one drink and by 18, this increases to more than 70 per cent. Approximately 5 000 people under the age 21 of die each year from alcohol-related diseases, car accidents, homicides, suicides, alcohol poisoning, and other injuries such as falls, burns, and drowning. This a scary thought. It makes one question the future for teemagers.
Anyone who interacts with young people should pay close attention to the warning signs that may indicate regular underage drinking. Some of these include:
• Academic and/or behavioural problems
• Different circle of friends
• Lack of interest in activities and/or appearance
• Finding alcohol among their things or smelling it on their breath
• Slurred speech
• Coordination problems
• Struggling with memory and/or concentration.
Sources: https://www.camy.org/factsheets/sheets/consequences_of_underage_drinking.html.
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/special-populations-co-occurring-disorders/underage-drinking
