Universidad Autonoma de Chiriqui Faculty of Humanities School of English

Title: DRINKING AGE Professor: Olda Cano

By: Emperatriz A. Sanchez Elibeth Acosta Karina Jimenez 4th Year Morning Session
Date: Friday, June 25th, 2010

INTRODUCTION
Alcohol is a drug, as surely as

cocaine and marijuana are, and for many of our country's young people, alcohol is the number one drug of choice. In fact, teens use alcohol more frequently and heavily than all other illicit drugs combined. While some parents may feel relieved that their teen is "only" drinking, it's important to remember that alcohol is a powerful, mood-altering drug.

Underage Drinking
Why adolescents drink What are the risks Legal Drinking age and how

heavy is the law enforced Can be underage Prevent

 Why adolescents

drink
Alcohol is the drug of

choice among youth. Many young people are experiencing the consequences of drinking too much, at too early age. As a result, underage drinking is a leading public health problem in many countries.

 Despite cross-cultural variations, the central

fact remains that in all cultures where alcohol is used, drinking is an essential element of celebration. This requires explanation: why should alcohol, rather than any other substance, be the universal symbol of festivity? The answer requires an understanding of the underlying social functions of celebration, and their relation to the symbolic and pharmacological properties of alcohol.

 What are the risks

Studies show that young people who drink heavily may put themselves at risk for a range of potential health problems.

Brain Effects: A significant impact on longterm thinking and memory skills. Liver Effects: Elevated liver enzymes, indicating some degree of liver damage, have been found in some adolescents who drink alcohol. Growth and Endocrine Effects: hormonal changes, Drinking alcohol during this period of rapid growth and development (i.e., prior to or during puberty) may upset the critical hormonal balance necessary for normal development of organs, muscles, and bones.

 Not only can alcohol affect the mind and body in

unpredictable ways, but teens lack the judgment and coping skills to handle alcohol wisely. Some of the catastrophic results of teen drinking include: adolescents. A recent study by the National Institute of Health presents the first concrete evidence that protracted, heavy alcohol use can impair brain function in adolescents, causing, in many cases, irreversible damage.

Significant brain development continues through

Alcohol-related traffic accidents are a major cause of

death and disability among teens. Alcohol use also is linked with the deaths of young people by drowning, fire, suicide and homicide.

 Teens who use alcohol are more likely to become sexually

active at earlier ages, to have sexual intercourse more often, and to have unprotected sex more than teens who do not drink.

Young people who drink are more likely than others to be

victims of violent crime, including rape, aggravated assault, and robbery. school work and school conduct.

Teens who drink are more likely to have problems with

An individual who begins drinking as a young teen is four

times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than someone who waits until adulthood to use alcohol.

Legal Drinking age

USA drinking age
Minimum legal
Enforcement of the law in USA

purchase and drinking age is 21 in most of the states and others 18

Panama drinking age

Minimum legal

Special difficulties enforcing the MLDA in the college setting Many campuses are surrounded by a concentration of bars and clubs that cater to college students. The MLDA is weakly and unevenly enforced, and the availability and use of high-quality fake IDs is widespread.

Enforcement of the law in Panama

purchase and drinking age is 18 in all the country

Difficulties enforcing the MLDA in all areas Almost all places sell alcohol without requesting IDs unless you enter a club or casino.

Consequences of Adolescent Alcohol Use

Drinking and Driving: cause fatal crashes Homicides and suicides: emotional disorders

Sexual behavior: adolescents suggest that alcohol use is associated with risky sexual behavior and increased vulnerability to coercive sexual activity.

 CAN BE UNDERAGE DRINKING PREVENT

School strategies
Developmentally appropriate information about drugs, including information on the short-term effects and long-term consequences of their use.

Extracurricular strategies
Better development of life skills Decreased involvement in risky behaviors, such as drug use

Family Strategies
Monitoring children's activities during adolescence Strengthening family bonding.

Policy Strategies
Increasing the Minimum Legal Drinking Age Enforcement of Laws

CONCLUSION
Instead of focusing on age, should consider: Promoting consistence policy across different levels Promote Responsible drinking Engaging parents, schools, communities, government, social systems, and youth in the process Promoting understanding of underage drinking across environmental, ethnic, cultural, and gender differences Other related issues: teen driving and transportation