Fear is rising in the eyes of the public as more and more teens consume alcohol illegally. Law enforcement and teachers are doing their best to try to control the problem of underage drinking problem.
“I would say teen drinking is probably one of the most problematic types of abuse,” school resource Officer Brian McLaughlin said. “It is a path most teens choose to take.”
According to sadd.org, nearly 72 percent of underaged students consume alcohol, and 21.1 percent of students get it from a parent or guardian.
“The biggest concern with alcohol is safety. Any type of substance abuse has consequences,” McLaughlin said. “A student’s metabolism does not work the way an adult does. Another concern is if that teen decides to get into a car and drive.”
According to victimservices.dialhelp.org, 64 percent of teenages are involved in fatal drunk driving accidents, and 28 percent of teens are killed in drunk driving accidents.
“Underage drinking is so common because of it’s easy access,” McLaughlin said. “In our school, our reputation is very college like: the students here are very mature and exposed to a lot of things. The pressure to drink is high and I think those are the reasons it’s common.”
Students are reminded that they should wait until they are 21 to drink legally. Many risks go along with drinking, and most will agree, they are not worth it.
