Does Alcohol Causes Intoxication

Alcohol is a drug found in beer, wine, and liquor that causes intoxication. Alcohol can impair a person’s physical and emotional state. Intoxication is the physical and mental changes produced by drinking alcohol (Friedman, Stine, and Whaten 2242). Some people believe that beer and wine are safer than liquor which leads them to believe that it is okay to drink. The truth is that one 12 ounce bottle of beer or a 5 ounce glass of wine is equal to the amount of alcohol in a 1.5 ounce shot or liquor and can cause the same effects (“Facts About Alcohol”). Short term effects of alcohol include nausea, vomiting, dehydration, coma, death, blackout, memory loss, poor vision, reduced reaction time, and loss of judgement along with self control (Friedman,
Drinking is a major cause of motor vehicle accidents, drinking has long lasting health effects, and can lead to sexual assault and rape (“Teenage Drinking”). When driving, alcohol can slow your reaction time, affect your vision, make you drowsy, reduce your coordination, and affect your judgement. Even though you may think it is safe to drive if you are not drunk, it is important to know that even a single drink can make you unsafe behind the wheel. 513,000 people are involved and injured in alcohol related-car crashes every year in the United States (Friedman, Stine, and Whaten 255). Approximately 4,700 people under the age of 21 die due to underage drinking. The main causes are homicide, alcohol poisoning, and injuries due to burns or falls (“Facts About Alcohol”). The nation’s most violent crime is drunk driving. Anyone with a 0.08 percent or greater BAC will be arrested for a DUI. Every state has a zero tolerance law for people under the age of 21 that states that it is illegal for anyone under 21 to drive with any amount of alcohol in their system. Alcohol affects development of the brain in teens and can cause an increased risk for alcoholism. Sexual activity while intoxicated can lead to unplanned pregnancy, STD’s, and emotional pain from an unwanted sexual relationship. Alcohol is the most common drug used in date rape (Friedman, Stine, and Whaten 255). The best way for a teenager to resist alcohol is to avoid people who drink and places where others commonly drink. Effective ways to practice saying no to alcohol are find a place to go to avoid the question and buy yourself time to come up with an excuse, have good explanations why you choose not to drink, list consequences that could occur if you drink, firmly say no while using eyes contact, if necessary say no again and provide another activity to do instead of drinking, or just walk away (Friedman, Stine, and Whaten 256-257). There