This document summarizes research on why teens drink alcohol and the effects of alcohol consumption. It finds that teens primarily drink alcohol to have fun or celebrate, but are also influenced by parents, peers and media portrayals. Alcohol advertising spends billions promoting alcohol usage. Underage drinking is common in the US, with the average teen starting at age 13. The document outlines how factors like body size, gender, food and medications can influence alcohol's effects on the brain and body. Excessive drinking can impair judgment and coordination and potentially cause injury or death.

1. Alcohol & Marijuana Shanghai American School – Pudong Grade Eight Health 2008-09

2. What’s the big deal? Why do teens drink alcohol?

3. Why Youth Say They Drink Alcohol is a drug that is produced by a chemical reaction in fruits, vegetables and grains. 41% say to have a good time 30% say to celebrate 28% say they drink to get drunk 24% say to feel good 21% say to de-stress/relax (Source: The Century Council, TRU, Omnibuzz February 2003)

4. Other factors “ Parents, peers and the media, also affect a teen’s decision to drink alcohol, there is reason to believe that advertising also plays a role.“ (Federal Trade Commission, Self-Regulation in the Alcohol Industry, 1999)

5. From music videos, movies and advertising, there is an image out there that makes drinking alcohol seem not only acceptable, but an “easy” way to be part of the “in” crowd.

6. Alcohol Advertising and Youth Alcohol advertisers spent $2 billion on alcohol advertising in measured media (television, radio, print, outdoor, major newspapers and Sunday supplements) in 2005 The alcohol industry's total expenditures to promote alcohol (including through sponsorship, Internet advertising, point-of-sale materials, product placement, brand-logoed items and other means) was $6 billion or more on advertising and promotion in 2005. According to a 2004 study of 200 films, rated G to NC-17, and 1,000 songs, entertainers were depicted doing drugs, drinking or smoking in 98 percent of the top movie rentals and 27 percent of the most popular songs in 1996 and 1997. (Office of National Drug Control Policy and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

7. Who’s Drinking Alcohol? Every day in the United States, over 5,000 kids under age 16 have their first full drink of alcohol. More youth in the United States drink alcohol than smoke tobacco or marijuana, making it the drug most used by American young people. The average age at which young people, ages 12 to 17, begin to drink is 13 years old.

8. Gender Comparison In 2006, more male than female 12- to 20-year olds reported current alcohol consumption (29% v. 27%, respectively), binge drinking (21% v. 17%) and heavy drinking (8% v. 4%). Among 12- to 17-year olds, the percentage of females who report drinking in the past month (17%) remains slightly higher, although not significantly, than their male peers (16%). (Source: SAMHSA, 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2007)

9. What About 8 th Graders?

10. Factors Influencing the Effects of Alcohol Body Size Gender Time frame Amount Food Medicine

11. Alcohol content of different drinks 40% (alcohol by volume) = 12% = 5%

12. How much is too much? Alcohol Screening Test

13. How Alcohol Affects Your Brain Affects thought processes, leading to potentially poor judgment Depresses inhibition, leading one to become more talkative and more confident. Blunts the senses and increases the threshold for pain. Memory loss May have exaggerated states of emotion Muscle movements become uncoordinated Will start to feel sleepy Increased consumption can lead to unconscious Can be fatal if consumption is excessive

14. Link to: The Effects of Alcohol on the Body Interactive Body Website

15. Video Summary on Alcohol Teens and Drinking Movie Clip on http://teachers.saschina.org/kpoulin

16. Photo Credits http://www.talktofrank.com/uploadedImages/Drugs/LARGE%20PHOTOS_ALCOHOL.jpg http://www.acc-tv.com/images/globalnews/hmed_marijuana_1106.jpg http://uk.gizmodo.com/teen-drinking.jpg http://www.robertsee.com/Music/Portfolio/InSession/pageTimeFrame/timeFrameClock.gif http://www.health.com/.../media/medical/hw/alcohol.jpg Research Credits Teen Health, Course 3 http://www.frankwbaker.com/alcoholfilms.htm http://www.centurycouncil.org/learn-the-facts http://www.camy.org/factsheets/index.php?FactsheetID=5 http://www.bloodalcohol.info/how-alcohol-affects-the-brain.php http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/CollegeStudents/anatomy/InteractiveBody_flash.aspx http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/Drug_Guide/Alcohol http://www.alcoholscreening.org/