“Everyone is doing it.”

“I’m not addicted, I know when to stop.”

“It’s not like I’m smoking.”

Consuming alcohol underage has become a regular occurrence for many. Too regular.

This idea is so embedded in us that we perceive them as fact, desensitizing us to the very real effects alcohol has on growing bodies.

Even though we acknowledge the dangers of smoking and doing drugs, they are far more condemned than alcohol consumption.

A study done by the University of Auckland shows that 61% of teens found smoking wrong, compared to the 22% who said the same about alcohol. This stark difference in attitude is strange considering both of these substances deteriorate the body from the inside out.

Those around me are under this false impression that somehow, they are immune to the negative effects of underage drinking. In reality, they are more susceptible to health problems than those over 21.

Seeing students turn down smoking to ‘protect their lungs’ but not doing the same for booze when it is offered will never not amaze me. Teens think their lungs will remain intact; however, damage is still being inflicted due to alcohol’s effects on the immune system.

Their livers will rot by adulthood. Around 44.5% of deaths attributed to liver disease in people 12 or older are caused by alcohol.

The damage is reversible if consumption is stopped.

Having two dysfunctional organs is already a problem, but alcohol affects more than just the liver and lungs. It also poses a great threat to the brain. Teens who indulge in drinking are more prone to impulsive behaviors and memory gaps.

Are you willing to risk forgetting chunks of your life for just a shot of tequila? Vodka? Is putting yourself in danger really worth the temporary high?

The most common reason teens get into this activity is because of peer-pressure or poor mental health. The thought of being excluded from group settings is unnerving because most connections in high school are built from scratch.

Depression and other mental health problems alike are most often caused by the intense stress that teens face. Unrealistic standards are set for us everywhere — whether its academic expectations perpetuated by our families, social media or social acceptance.

Kristine Szeto

81% of students have been drunk themselves or know those who have drank. This poll was conducted on the student body of Bellaire and shows how normalized underage drinking is.

Alcohol is a depressant that gives users a relaxed feeling that a lot of today’s youth crave.

Drunk driving is one of the most frequent and deadly occurrences that happen as a result of underage drinking.

In the past decade the rate of car accidents involving those underage has increased by 33% for every 100,000 individuals. Consuming as little as a drop should ideally keep teens from going behind the wheel. However, the carefree view of drinking is what gets countless people killed each year.

The scariest part of this epidemic is not just the adverse effects on our bodies, it is that this issue is preventable, and few stop before it’s too late. Time is crucial.

We need to start calling out drinking for what it is if we want to prevent further damage. Look beyond the short-term enjoyment it may offer and see it for what it really is — an illness corroding today’s youth.