Alcohol consumption among young people

Alcohol consumption starts in adolescence.
In fact, it has been recorded that 85.7% of 17-year-olds had already tasted an alcoholic drink. What’s more, 44% say they have had at least one episode of binge drinking in the past month, and 8.4% drink alcohol at least 10 times a month.

Many factors explain young people’s attraction to alcohol.

During adolescence, many neuronal changes take place. These include, for example, sensation-seeking and impulsiveness, but also a greater sensitivity to the stimulating effect of alcohol. Likewise, for teenagers, drinking a lot seems more rewarding than moderate consumption.

There is also the social influence of other young people. At parties, it’s easy to be influenced into drinking, whether through pressure from others or through drinking games. Drinking together can also give a feeling of belonging.

Parents influence young people’s drinking. A study (Eimear M. et al., 2016) carried out in Ireland showed that teenagers whose parents drink at hazardous levels are three times more likely to drink at hazardous levels themselves.

Around 42% of the parents surveyed agreed to let their teenager drink alcohol on special occasions, thus making it easier to discover and access alcohol.

In addition, young people with a difficult family situation, or who are facing a stressful situation, are at greater risk of drinking excessively.

It’s worth noting that young people with the most access to alcohol, through the presence of bars, nightclubs and supermarkets near their homes, drink more than those with less access.

However, drinking alcohol is not without danger for young people.

On top of the risks linked to drunkenness (coma, accidents) and various illnesses, it can impair proper brain development (which continues until around the age of 25).

Indeed, alcohol consumption can lead to a reduction in the volume of grey matter (the neurons) and hamper the development of white matter (which connects the neurons).

These effects can impair brain activity, which affects many cognitive functions. For example, verbal learning, memory, reactivity and self-control are reduced. It can also lead to an increase in risky behaviour (endangering oneself and others).

So, to avoid these effects, it’s important to open up a dialogue about alcohol and to favour moderate, occasional consumption.

Sources:

alcool-info-service.fr

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Dequiré, A. F. (2013). L’alcool et les jeunes : état des lieux. Journal du droit des jeunes. Published.

Hwang, C. L.,et al. (2020). The effects of repeated binge drinking on arterial stiffness and urinary norepinephrine levels in young adults. Journal of Hypertension, 38(1), 111‑117. https://doi.org/10.1097/hjh.0000000000002223

Jones, S. A. (2018). Effects of binge drinking on the developing brain. Alcohol Research. Published.

Morrison, C. N., et al. (2019). Exposure to alcohol outlets, alcohol access, and alcohol consumption among adolescents. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 205, 107622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107622

Murphy, E., et al. (2016). The association between parental attitudes and alcohol consumption and adolescent alcohol consumption in Southern Ireland : a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3504-0

Waszkiewicz, N.,et al. (2018). Neurobiological Effects of Binge Drinking Help in Its Detection and Differential Diagnosis from Alcohol Dependence. Disease Markers, 2018, 1‑9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5623683