Does The Law Matter To You? Monday, December 13, 2010 By Sophomore Dillan Klindt [ArticleImageHyperLink] Advertising What would you do if your best friend started to drink alcohol? Would you start drinking, or would you have enough self-control to turn away and not let the choices of others affect how you live your life day to day? Underage drinking is starting to become more and more common in the U.S. Although underage drinking is becoming more and more popular, it is not a reason for young teens to start. Drunk driving is the number one cause of death of teens in the United States. According to DrunkDrivingLawyers.com, over 3,000 teens die a year in the United States from drunk driving. Drinking alcohol slows the thought process and can damage the liver, brain, and lungs. Drinking, even when your body is fully developed, is still hard on the body. Imagine what effects it has on the body when it is still in the process of developing?! It has both long term effects and short-term effects. Some short term effects are impaired judgment, dizziness, nausea, slurred speech, and vomiting. The long term effects are, however, greater. They consist of memory loss, brain damage, tremors, and anxiety. Consequences are very serious for teens that are caught drinking. Schools and law enforcement officers are continuing to enforce laws that will punish any underage drinkers. Junior Emily Carr says, “So many high school students drink, police officers should continue to enforce the law more than they already do.” Underage drinking has always been a problem with teens. Not only are teens responsible for drinking, but their parents are also responsible for what happens to their child. Some parents know their kids drink illegally, and sometimes let it happen in their own homes. Parents should not be letting their children drink illegally, they should be enforcing the law. Letting their children drink illegally is setting an example that they will follow by and continue to break the law.  Teens in general think underage drinking is cool or fun, but what they don’t know is the effects that alcohol has on your body. Registered Nurse Shana Day says, “When teens are under the influence of alcohol they take dangerous risks that they normally would not take when not under the influence.” She also said, “When teens are under the influence of alcohol they take the chance of hurting not only themselves but someone else.” What it all comes down to in the end is to stay away from alcohol or any other illegal substance because all they do is set you up for a rough future!

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