By Cheryl Mattox Berry
Doing shots is a lot of fun. Line ‘em up and throw ‘em back. Then, you do it again. Before long, everyone is laughing, dancing and having a good time. No problem, no worries, right? Think again. You’ve put yourself in harm’s way.
First and foremost, underage drinking is illegal. Second, you’re binge drinking, and that’s dangerous. For women, binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more drinks in a row within two hours.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that binge drinking is common among high school girls and women aged 18-34. The latest Vital Signs report shows one in eight women and one in five girls in grades 9-12 admit binge drinking.
The CDC analyzed data from the 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for adult women and the 2011 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey on alcohol use among high school girls.
Most high school girls who consumed alcohol also reported binge drinking. Girls in grades 11 and 12 were the heaviest drinkers. The CDC attributed the prevalence of alcohol use among teenage girls to the influence of adults who glamorize drinking, price and availability of alcoholic beverages, religious and cultural factors, and the marketing of flavored malt beverages that appeal to underage girls.
The statistics are alarming for many reasons. Binge drinking increases the risk for getting pregnant, date raped, contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, decreased brain function, car accidents and fatalities, and violent behavior. In addition, excessive alcohol use can cause liver disease, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, breast and other cancers.
Drinking can also ruin your reputation. A drunk girl isn’t cute. She’s disgusting. Decent guys don’t want to date her, and nobody wants to elect her to an office or trust her with anything valuable. Nor should you get in the car with someone who has been drinking despite her claims that she can drive. Take the keys and call a cab or your parents for a ride home. Don’t risk your life.
If a friend drinks, show her the CDC report. Tell her you care about her and don’t want to see her life destroyed by alcohol.