Universidad Autonoma de Chiriqui Faculty of Humanities School of English Title: DRINKING AGE Professor: Olda Cano By: Emperatriz A. Sanchez Elibeth Acosta Karina Jimenez 4 th Year Morning Session Date: Friday, June 25 th, 2010

INTRODUCTION  Alcohol is a drug, as surely as cocaine and marijuana are, and for many of our country's young people, alcohol is the number one drug of choice. In fact, teens use alcohol more frequently and heavily than all other illicit drugs combined. While some parents may feel relieved that their teen is "only" drinking, it's important to remember that alcohol is a powerful, mood-altering drug.

Underage Drinking  Why adolescents drink  What are the risks  Legal Drinking age and how heavy is the law enforced  Can be underage Prevent

 Why adolescents drink  Alcohol is the drug of choice among youth. Many young people are experiencing the consequences of drinking too much, at too early age. As a result, underage drinking is a leading public health problem in many countries.

 Despite cross-cultural variations, the central fact remains that in all cultures where alcohol is used, drinking is an essential element of celebration. This requires explanation: why should alcohol, rather than any other substance, be the universal symbol of festivity? The answer requires an understanding of the underlying social functions of celebration, and their relation to the symbolic and pharmacological properties of alcohol.

 What are the risks Studies show that young people who drink heavily may put themselves at risk for a range of potential health problems.  Brain Effects: A significant impact on long- term thinking and memory skills.  Liver Effects: Elevated liver enzymes, indicating some degree of liver damage, have been found in some adolescents who drink alcohol.  Growth and Endocrine Effects: hormonal changes, Drinking alcohol during this period of rapid growth and development (i.e., prior to or during puberty) may upset the critical hormonal balance necessary for normal development of organs, muscles, and bones.

 Not only can alcohol affect the mind and body in unpredictable ways, but teens lack the judgment and coping skills to handle alcohol wisely. Some of the catastrophic results of teen drinking include:  Significant brain development continues through adolescents. A recent study by the National Institute of Health presents the first concrete evidence that protracted, heavy alcohol use can impair brain function in adolescents, causing, in many cases, irreversible damage.  Alcohol-related traffic accidents are a major cause of death and disability among teens. Alcohol use also is linked with the deaths of young people by drowning, fire, suicide and homicide.

 Teens who use alcohol are more likely to become sexually active at earlier ages, to have sexual intercourse more often, and to have unprotected sex more than teens who do not drink.  Young people who drink are more likely than others to be victims of violent crime, including rape, aggravated assault, and robbery.  Teens who drink are more likely to have problems with school work and school conduct.  An individual who begins drinking as a young teen is four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than someone who waits until adulthood to use alcohol.

Legal Drinking age  Enforcement of the law in USA  Special difficulties enforcing the MLDA in the college setting  Many campuses are surrounded by a concentration of bars and clubs that cater to college students.  The MLDA is weakly and unevenly enforced, and the availability and use of high-quality fake IDs is widespread.  Enforcement of the law in Panama  Difficulties enforcing the MLDA in all areas  Almost all places sell alcohol without requesting IDs unless you enter a club or casino.  USA drinking age  Minimum legal purchase and drinking age is 21 in most of the states and others 18  Panama drinking age  Minimum legal purchase and drinking age is 18 in all the country

Consequences of Adolescent Alcohol Use  Drinking and Driving: cause fatal crashes  Homicides and suicides: emotional disorders  Sexual behavior: adolescents suggest that alcohol use is associated with risky sexual behavior and increased vulnerability to coercive sexual activity.

 CAN BE UNDERAGE DRINKING PREVENT  School strategies  Developmentally appropriate information about drugs, including information on the short-term effects and long-term consequences of their use.  Extracurricular strategies  Better development of life skills  Decreased involvement in risky behaviors, such as drug use  Family Strategies  Monitoring children's activities during adolescence  Strengthening family bonding.  Policy Strategies  Increasing the Minimum Legal Drinking Age  Enforcement of Laws

CONCLUSION Instead of focusing on age, should consider:  Promoting consistence policy across different levels  Promote Responsible drinking  Engaging parents, schools, communities, government, social systems, and youth in the process  Promoting understanding of underage drinking across environmental, ethnic, cultural, and gender differences  Other related issues: teen driving and transportation