When you go to a party, there is going to be alcohol. Even when it’s a children’s birthday party, there is alcohol for the adults. There are some host that will not serve alcohol but those are far and few.
It seems that alcohol is a must no matter what event it is. You see, it’s expected. People do not think it’s a function worth going to if there is no alcohol.
Now, not only do adults love to drink, but there are the teenagers to worry about. Every party, wedding or event they have been to, they see alcohol. Some are so curious about this drink that when one is placed down on a table, they will take a sip. If the parents leave them home alone, they will find a way to get access to alcohol and drink. Many will even invite their friends over for little party.
Just like smoking, they see it everywhere, ads, music videos, movies, shows, etc. They show people drunk and in funny situations. Makes it look like it’s a blast. Their curiosity is peaked, they become very interested. Now, not all of them enjoy the world of drinking, but most of them have at least tried a sip. It’s wonderful to know that many walk away from it with no interest, but there are more that do continue drinking.
How many of you remember those wild parties after prom night, drinking like crazy? How about when you went to college, all those wild nights? Well, some remember those wild times and how fun they were. Others, only remember how horrible it was, some have memories they wish they could forget, they have nightmares. Some of these parties at college ended in tragedy.
What people do not seem to remember is that alcohol is another type of drug, it is actually a depressant. It also becomes an addiction and a difficult one to end just like all other addictions. Some can actually control their drinking but many can’t. So many have fallen prey to this addiction and have lost everything, their job, home, family, their freedom and of course their lives.
The dangers of alcohol are not only related to illnesses, there are so many more. Next time you hold a drink in your hand, think of the dangers that come with that drink. Do you really want to risk your life or the lives of others?
DRUNK DRIVING
Let’s get straight to the point, drunk driving. When you look in a newspaper or watch the news, there is a report of an accident due to drunk driving. It’s not just a few cars colliding; there are deaths and horrible tragedies involved. Just imagine it’s you driving, can you deal with the death or injury of someone you love or an innocent bystander? If that doesn’t work, how about putting yourself in the shoes of someone who is innocent and is struck by a drunk driver, could you forgive this person who hurt you? This is truly a tragedy that can be prevented. Many believe that because they had just one drink, they are fine. That is not true. It has been scientifically proven that drinking alcohol, no matter what amount, will impair your judgment and coordination. When driving you will react slower, your reflexes are impaired. If you are lucky enough to avoid having an accident then there is also the possibility of being stopped by an officer. You will be charged with a DUI and that is something you can’t get rid of. You will get your license suspended, something you need in order to drive to work, do errands and take your children to school. There is a very easy way to prevent any of this happening, if you plan to drink, have a designated driver. Be safe, watch out for yourself and others, it’s the best thing to do.
SEX AND ALCOHOL
As mentioned earlier, there are many dangers of alcohol. Here is another popular risk. You are so drunk; you can’t remember what you did the night before. Some people just brush it off but really you shouldn’t. There is a 99.9% chance that the sex you had that night was unprotected. What are the consequences of this? Well there is the chance of an unplanned pregnancy. This is definitely a very hard situation to be in. What are you going to do? You don’t even remember who he was and if you are lucky to remember, he may not and won’t believe you. This is something that both should be worried about. Then there is the possibility of venereal diseases and HIV. Do you know what this can do to your life, what will happen afterwards? After being in these situations, was the drinking worth it? According to a college website, at least 400,000 college students had unprotected sex. Out of these, 100,000 can’t remember if it was consensual sex.
VIOLENCE
It’s not all fun when you drink, there is also violence involved. When you drink, you’re unable to control your emotions, your anger. Those that become addicted to alcohol can actually lose control. Families with alcoholics, suffer greatly, either they are verbally abused and/or physically abused. The fights that occur to drinking, whether in a bar, a party, a club, etc lead to injuries, in some cases they have led to deaths. An alcoholic can’t be without a drink and if you get between them and their booze, you are surely to suffer.
ALCOHOLISM
Let’s not forget the fact that excessive drinking will lead to alcoholism. As the years pass by you are more and more addicted to alcohol and just can’t seem to give it up. Your body begins to deteriorate and so does your mind. You feel the need to drink constantly, you lose interest in other activities, can’t remember appointments or promises made, problems with the family and even work. The list is longer than this. Drinking keeps you in a depressed state of mind and you care about nothing. Some alcoholics, when they can’t get their hands on booze, they will drink mouth wash, cold medicines, etc. This will lead you to hit rock bottom. So many have lost it all and nowadays are on the streets. Why let this happen to you? It is true, once you are in this state, it’s not easy to stop but you can. You can get therapy, join support groups such as AA, and if necessary, a rehabilitation facility.
PHYSICAL ILLNESSES
Apart from all the above there is also the damage done to your body. You really don’t think that nothing will happen right? First of all, you do start to let your appearance go. Many actually seem to age faster than others. Continuing this path will lead to liver, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular problems. Excessive drinking can lead to complications of diabetes. Alcohol prevents the liver from releasing glucose which will increase the risk of low blood sugar. This is dangerous for those taking insulin, who are already trying to lower their sugar levels. Drinking while pregnant will cause birth defects; there is no ways around this. Apart from this, you are at a higher risk of cancer and bone loss. It can also cause erectile dysfunction in men and in women; it can interrupt the menstrual cycles.
MYTHS
Now many, still after reading all this, believe they have it under control. They feel they can go out, get drunk and sober up quickly without any problems. According to them, they have learned a few tricks that help them sober up quickly.
- Just stick to one type of alcohol drink. Some believe that if they choose one drink, let’s say beer all night, that will prevent them from getting too intoxicated. Not true, no matter what, alcohol is alcohol. Mixing drinks will not make you more drunk than drinking only beer. Remember, alcohol is alcohol and will have the same effect no matter what you drink.
- Cold showers, coffee and fresh air. This is what many believe that will help them sober up. Well not true, the only thing that can sober you up is time. For every drink you have, your body will need exactly one hour to eliminate the alcohol. So if you had 5 drinks, it will take 5 hours to eliminate the alcohol.
- Eating before you drink. Another myth, you can eat anything and as much as you want to avoid getting drunk. That is also a myth, eating will not prevent the alcohol from reaching your bloodstream. The only thing that eating a lot may do if you drink too much is make you sick.
PREVENTION
There are many ways to prevent you from excessive drinking that lead to alcoholism. First of all, take a good look at your family history. For some people the risk can be higher if they had a parent or parents that abused alcohol. Don’t drink when your emotions are heightened, especially if you’re depressed or angry. Limit your drinking when going to any event or dinner. If you feel the need to drink, talk to someone, get help.
CONCLUSION
You know, a friend that encourages drinking is not a friend. There is a story about a young woman, she believed that the only way she could feel comfortable around people, was when she drank alcohol. After a few drinks, usually three or more and quickly, she felt she was ready to go. She became more outgoing, funny, danced more and had a great time. She never once thought she was making a fool of herself.
Everyone around her was constantly drinking too, so who was going to tell her. Well, one day, a friend sat her down and said they needed to talk. This friend, she didn’t have to drink to have a good time so she was able to observe her. She proceeded to tell her of a night they all went out and how she behaved. As she was listening to the the story of her behavior she began to blush and became embarrassed. She never knew she did anything stupid, she always felt she was smart, funny and cool to be with. Well that was all she needed to sober up and quit drinking. She cut down to three drinks, then two, then one and eventually found that to be herself, she did not need to drink alcohol. She was funny, smart, great at dancing and great to be with sober.
See, she realized that she drank because she felt unsure of herself. She lacked self-confidence and in her mind drinking alcohol made her strong, sure of herself and capable of talking with others. She felt that when she drank she was able to talk to guys better, be able to flirt, have fun, and seem interesting. Luckily, she never made the mistake of having sex while drunk. She never had blackouts that made her wonder what happened that night. Many are not that lucky.
Those that drink, at times, are very insecure and find strength in booze. They want to be the life of a party. They want attention and to be accepted for who they are. Problem is that drinking doesn’t do that. So many make mistakes and they are mistakes you can’t erase or change. Sometimes, a long hard look at youself through the eyes of another can be a wakeup call, no matter how unpleasant it may be.
If you have someone in your family or a friend that you see is drinking too much, heading towards alcoholism, talk to them. It is true; many will get angry and not talk to you but not for long. They will eventually let you know how much they appreciated that wakeup call. For those that can’t seem to let it go that easy then get help. See a therapist, join a support group, talk to someone, there is a way out and you can find the help you need. The girl that quit drinking found that she no longer enjoyed the company of those who drank too much, never again felt the need to drink, and definitely did not fall prey to peer pressure.
There is hope for everyone, you can stop drinking. Start today, that way you have a better future, longer tomorrows and more years to look forward to.