You may think I’m pretty uncool for admitting this but I’m not really a “let’s go out and get drunk” kind of gal. So you can imagine my despair when I found out about a furtive new teen trend to getting drunk — soaking gummy bears in alcohol.
Yep, you read right.
Now, I’m not against those who drink in moderation, occasionally and responsibly. However, where teens are concerned, I don’t understand their fascination with alcohol. Growing up, I didn’t know anyone my age that desperately wanted to get their hands on booze. But times have changed and teens nowadays think that drinking will relax them and help them escape their problems for a little while, when honestly; I’ve never heard anyone say that getting drunk has made them feel better. Plus, there’s the overlooked fact that it’s illegal!
According to SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving), “nearly 72% have consumed alcohol by the end of high school and more than 37% have done so by eighth grade.”
Have you ever thought about what this saying about us as a society?
Clearly, the numbers are outrageous but I think that there are various reasons as to why teens start drinking in the first place, everything from the rush of being rebellious to releasing stress to peer pressure. However, it’s very important to understand that drinking is not the answer.
Being a teenager is supposed to be fun! So stand your ground and don’t get sucked into life’s challenges. Things only get harder as you age!
Words by: Ashley Kooblall
Photo by: Jana Van De Bolt
