Alcohol Facts

·          A standard drink is:  One 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.

·          Alcohol is a depressant that comes from organic sources including grapes, grains and berries.  These are fermented or distilled into a liquid.

·          Alcohol effects every part of the body.  It is carried through the bloodstream to the brain, stomach, internal organs, liver kidneys, muscles—everywhere.  It is absorbed very quickly (as short as 5-10 minutes) and can stay in the body for several hours.

·          Alcohol affects the central nervous system and brain.  It can make users loosen up, relax, and feel more comfortable, or it can make them more aggressive.  Unfortunately, it also lowers their inhibitions, which can set them up for dangerous or embarrassing behavior.

·          Alcohol is a drug and is only legal for people over the age of 21.
 

Health Hazards...
People who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who wait until age 21.

Adolescents who drink heavily assume the same long-term health risks as adults who drink heavily.  This means they are at increased risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, hemorrhagic stroke, and certain forms of cancer.

Adolescents who use alcohol are more likely to become sexually active, which places them at greater risk of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Students diagnosed with alcohol abuse problems are four times more likely to experience major depression than those without an alcohol problem.

Alcohol use among adolescents has been associated with planning, attempting, and completing suicide.

Source: Substance abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. www.theantidrug.com

Why 21?

Ever wonder why the minimum drinking age is 21? You may not know it, but there are some pretty good reasons why lawmakers chose that age.

Accidents...
In the late 1960's and early 70's some states change the legal drinking age from 21 down to 18.  In many of these states, research documented a significant increase in highway deaths of teens affected by the lower drinking law.  When the age was changed back to 21, researchers found that teenage deaths in fatal car crashes dropped considerably.

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Brain...
Young brains don't finish developing until a person is around 20 years old and one of the last regions to mature is involved with the ability to plan and make complex judgements. Also involved is the brain's capacity for memory and learning.  As a result, young people who drink could powerfully impact their short and long-term abilities to think and learn.

So the answer to the question "Why 21?" is that the 21 minimum age drinking laws were established to save your brain and your life!

Source Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) www.madd.org.