2008 Woodie Awards
99 Bottles of beer ... in middle school
The statistics behind the early stages of a popular pastime
LINDA DRYDEN Cynic Correspondent
Issue date: 11/6/07 Section: B Side
It is not uncommon to witness under¬age drinking while at college. However, much more shockingly, teens have started to grab their first drink at an increasingly younger age.
Recently in class, a lecture taught by Professor Lynda Van Kleeck brought the statistics on drinking habits in American culture to light.
According to the lecture, by the age of 13, the average American has already had their first drink of alcohol, and of all industrialized countries, the United States has the highest rate of teenage alcohol and drug abuse.
And it doesn't stop there.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, people who first drink alcohol before the age of 15 are five times as more likely to abuse alcohol than people who first drink alcohol after turning 21 years old.
The survey also states that males are more likely than females to have tried alcohol for the first time before turning 15.
With different racial groups, statistics were also found to be quite interesting. In comparing whites, blacks, Asians and Hispanics, the survey found that Asians are least likely to have tried alcohol before the age of 15.
However, out of these four races, whites had the highest rate of alcohol use before turning 15 and also before turning 21.
In the lecture, Van Kleeck also stressed the negative influence several media sources have on children and adolescents.
Commercials advertising alcohol are constantly shown on television and are made to appeal to teenagers. In addition, drug usage is shown in 98 percent of the most popular movies.
Van Kleeck also discussed the many risk factors in play when a child goes through adolescence.
Risk factors are aspects of a child's life that can increase the chances of alcohol abuse. School, friends, family and the community are the four most influential risk factors.
In school, risk factors include a child showing little to no effort and also failing their classes as early as the fifth grade.
Recently in class, a lecture taught by Professor Lynda Van Kleeck brought the statistics on drinking habits in American culture to light.
According to the lecture, by the age of 13, the average American has already had their first drink of alcohol, and of all industrialized countries, the United States has the highest rate of teenage alcohol and drug abuse.
And it doesn't stop there.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, people who first drink alcohol before the age of 15 are five times as more likely to abuse alcohol than people who first drink alcohol after turning 21 years old.
The survey also states that males are more likely than females to have tried alcohol for the first time before turning 15.
With different racial groups, statistics were also found to be quite interesting. In comparing whites, blacks, Asians and Hispanics, the survey found that Asians are least likely to have tried alcohol before the age of 15.
However, out of these four races, whites had the highest rate of alcohol use before turning 15 and also before turning 21.
In the lecture, Van Kleeck also stressed the negative influence several media sources have on children and adolescents.
Commercials advertising alcohol are constantly shown on television and are made to appeal to teenagers. In addition, drug usage is shown in 98 percent of the most popular movies.
Van Kleeck also discussed the many risk factors in play when a child goes through adolescence.
Risk factors are aspects of a child's life that can increase the chances of alcohol abuse. School, friends, family and the community are the four most influential risk factors.
In school, risk factors include a child showing little to no effort and also failing their classes as early as the fifth grade.
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