Whether you’d like to admit it or not, drinking is a major part of today’s culture. People of all classes drink, from millionaires to the homeless; from drinking wine to taking shots of hard liquor- everybody drinks. So if everyone drinks, what’s so bad about it? If everybody says it’s fun and they drink willingly, why is there a law against minors drinking?

First of all, alcohol damages and deteriorates your liver, which could ultimately lead to cancer. Alcohol also raises blood pressure and increases the risk of stroke and heart disease in heavy drinkers. It enlarges the kidneys, increasing the risk of kidney failure, and alters hormone functions. In addition to physical side affects, alcohol impairs your judgment. According to Wikipedia, drinking can cause neuropathy and dementia, as well as impairing balance and memory. This leads to depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

Sexual side effects steam from alcohol as well. For example, erectile dysfunction and reduced sperm count are common in men with alcohol problems. In women, drinking can lead to menstrual difficulties, decreased fertility and early menopause.

Consider the legal drinking age. By law, you have to be over 21 to drink, but does everybody follow the rules? I bet they don’t. So, do people under 21 drink alcohol? How about the students at our school? Are they getting trashed at a party every weekend?

Well, to find out, a poll passed to random homerooms asked minors if they drank or not, and why. About 29% of the people polled said they drink. 71% of the school didn’t drink. The 29% of the students who drink said they do so because drinking makes them loosen up and feel good. A majority of them drink at parties for fun. A few people said they do it to look cool or because everybody else does it. A small percentage get intoxicated to become happy or for the taste.

While attending parties are inevitable, especially during the summer, one might feel obligated to submit themselves to a drink or two, maybe more from time to time. A majority of the 71% of students who said they don’t drink say it’s because they believe drinking is generally bad for their health, or they don’t like the way people act when they’re drunk. Some people say they’re not old enough and will wait until they’re of legal drinking age.

A stereotypical teenager is viewed as someone who does drugs and drinks all the time. The poll results showed that not a lot of students at Lincoln drink. You don’t have to submit yourselves to what everybody else does. Just remember, drinking doesn’t make you look cool or popular, and you have the choice to say “no”.