The minimum drinking age in India is 21 years. Though people are mature enough to understand the adverse effects of alcohol at this stage, still very few pay attention to these. Consuming alcohol is not life-threatening in all cases, but ignorance towards the intensity of its excessive consumption is. The fact is that initially, alcohol was used for the sole purpose of manufacturing medicines . It was developed as a medicine, But over the centuries people expanded its usage and eventually it has become a means of intoxication.
People under influence of alcohol tend to loose their sensitivity to social norms thereby are always a potential threat to society. This encompasses cases of reckless driving, domestic violence, and you can go on.What considered a source of deriving joy turns out to be a curse to all. It is not that alcohol consumption is immoral or unethical No, it’s certainly not, but unhealthy it is. The government has passed several guidelines under the consumption of alcohol to avoid some incorrigible repercussions but the guidelines alone won’t do any good until people themselves be cautious of the consequences.
Alcohol and Age: how do they influence each other?
Alcohol does not spare any age group from its adverse effects. The young fall for alcohol as it is thought to be a tool to be the coolest in the group accompanied by smoking. They believe that alcohol will bring no inferiority to their physical and mental health in the near or far future, Though the law entitles them to purchase alcohol at 18 and consume it by 21, assuming they are mature enough to deal with all the consequences which is not the most pragmatic approach.
There are several reasons why age and alcohol require reconsideration.
As they are still burgeoning , alcohol can hinder their physical growth . More precisely, the effects of alcohol on young people are the same as they are on adults or even worse sometimes. Harmful effects of alcohol can affect their brain development. And the fact that the number of deaths due to liver cirrhosis has increased in the early twenties suggests that it is no more an age issue.
Youth vulnerable to Risks
Health Risks:
AS young people’s bodies are still burgeoning, alcohol can harm their development in the long run. The damages include:
- Cancer of mouth and throat.
- Mental disabilities of both temporary and permanent nature including depression, anxiety, panic attacks.
- Reduced sex drive.
- Liver cirrhosis, heart diseases, etc.
- Antisocial behavior
Alcohol interferes with the way people reason and it reduces their patience, and their ability to think before they react. They are more likely to involve in fights or verbal abuse. Statistically speaking, four out of ten young students have been involved in some kind of violence under influence of alcohol and its subsidiary intoxications.
- Criminal behavior
Young people who drink are more likely to behave abruptly twice as much as those who don’t. They are more likely to get involved in illegal activities which may damage their perspectives for the rest of their life. Drinking makes people reach at their wit’s end and people attempt to do things that they wouldn’t when sane.
- Drink and drive
Drink and drive is responsible for most of the road accidents. This proves to be harmful to the one who is driving as well as to the victim. Drinking causes many injuries, there are more than 150,000 emergency-room visits every year for alcohol-related incidents.
- Fail to meet their capabilities at academics
As stated, drinking hinders the mental development of young people, and it makes it hard for them to focus on studies. It also takes longer to drain alcohol out of their system than a normal adult. It can cause cognitive disabilities, and their mind becomes more prone to alcohol dependency.
- Physical assault
The cases of physical and sexual assaults are not new. They are more open to become victims of such assaults in comparison to those who don’t drink. They are more prone to become involved in unwanted & unplanned pregnancy which is a matter of importance today. Unaware of their consequences, they often indulge themselves in the course of actions that can ruin their life forever.
All the above-stated facts considered, it’s obvious that no matters how mature(physically at least) a person can be, alcohol can never let go of its nature. It is an escapade from the fierce real world for a moment or two when taken with consideration, but it is disastrous when taken in excess.
How can it be prevented?
To minimize the damage caused by excessive alcohol consumption, it is necessary to make citizens aware of its harmful effects. One of the major reasons behind the above problems is the lack of knowledge. People are not aware of the consequences. They start drinking due to several reasons: it can be peer pressure, the pressure of appearing cool in front of their friends, some opt for drinking to cope up with stress etc. It all starts with a reason, but it ends up being their addiction and apparently not a good one. This is where counselling is most required. The legal age might be 18 for purchasing alcohol but there are always illegal means to score liquor. Therefore the government needs to make the existing laws more rigid and reforming in nature and spread as much awareness of its vices as they can.
Following steps should be taken into consideration in order to cope up with this social evil:
- Illegal production and sell of alcohol should be banned at all costs.
- Social awareness programs should be run.
- Students and youth campaigns should be organized to make them aware of the fatal consequences of consuming alcohol in excess.
- Parents should also be made familiar with the liquor issues and counseled to maintain a friendly relation with their children. Such an environment reduces the risk of teenagers indulging in illegitimate drug and alcohol consumption.
- People with excessive drinking addictions should be encouraged to get treated in rehab centers.
- Mental health should be prioritized. It may not sound as big an issue but one of the underlying issues behind alcohol consumption is mental health.
With the help of the above steps, it is possible to eradicate or at least minimize alcohol casualties from our society. An alcohol-free society is the society more likely to achieve new levels of growth evolution, and peace. To ensure that the upcoming generation is free of such hazards, it is important to rethink alcohol and its effects on all age groups.
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