Binge Drinking in Teenagers: Influences and Consequences

Running head: PUBLIC HEALTH
PUBLIC HEALTH
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1PUBLIC HEALTH
Abstract
Alcohol is considered as a normal part of adult and teen social life. The use of alcohol by
young people is harmful because of the risks associated with acute impairment as well as it is a
threat to their long term development and wellbeing. It can therefore be said that with less age,
alcohol consumption can lead to harmful effects. The following is the outline of the research.
Aim
1. To determine teenage drinking patterns and to determine the influence of alcohol on teenagers
physical, mental and social wellbeing.
2. To review the relationship between accessibility of alcohol & binge drinking among teenagers
3. To assess if binge drinking and teenage pregnancy coexists in UK
Literature
Relevant studies were included in the study so that it can be aligned to the topic which is
Binge Drinking. These articles were chosen from January 2000 to June 2010 to understand the
current trends. The method chosen was systematic review quantitative analysis.
Results
From this study, it was found that binge drinking has deleterious consequences on
teenagers. There is also evidence that teenagers not only have easy access but also to cheap
alcohol which gives more opportunity to binge.
Conclusion

2PUBLIC HEALTH
From this public health viewpoint reinforcing the alcohol policy and involving parents,
adolescents and communities in an integrated program will have a positive impact on young
adults.

3PUBLIC HEALTH
Introduction
As the modern cultural traditions, alcohol consumption has become a way to socialize or
a way for relaxation from work or personal stress. Mostly, nowadays, people consume alcohol
for enjoyment or to have a good time with their family and friends. The World Health
Organization (2004), determines that more than 2 billion people consumes alcohol and alcoholic
beverages and within that 76.3 million people has been diagnosed with alcohol related disorders.
Further this report also provided data such as alcohol causes death of 1.8 million people and 58.3
million disability adjusted life years. According to Robinson & Ladder (2009), there is an
alcohol consumption limit as per which men should not drink more 2 drinks per day and a non-
pregnant women should not consume more than 1 drink per day. On the other hand, as per the
data of Royal College of Medical, the safe limit for men is 21 units per week and 14 units per
week for women. As per WHO, Europe is the continent that acquires most of the alcohol
consumers and within that in UK, more than 80% people are social drinkers, whereas 10% do not
drink (Rehm et al., 2003). However, more than 15% people are alcohol abusers as they drink
beyond their sensible levels and are divided in three sections such as hazardous drinkers, harmful
drinking and binge drinking. In this section, the drinking pattern in teenagers will be identified
and the effect of binge drinking on their mental physical and social health will be identified.
Further, the easy availability of alcohol will be established as the reason for binge drinking in
teenagers. Further, the coexistence of binge drinking and teenage pregnancy will also be
discussed in the context of alcoholic abuse.