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Underage drinking can be very dangerous and is completely illegal. Stopping the underage epidemic starts with the parents. Parents have a huge influence in their teenagers lives and should be discussing these types of issues before they happen.
Alcohol is the number one abused substance in the United States. Teenagers use alcohol more then they use tobacco and drugs. Most of the alcohol consumed by teenagers is in the form of binge drinking. This type of drinking has led to approximately 190,000 emergency room visits in 2008.
Some of the problems that underage drinkers may have include DUI arrests. This may present a problem getting employment in the future. Some employers look at driving and criminal records before hiring employees. Sexual assault can also be a consequence of drinking. All too often we hear about a young female being drugged while drinking or getting too drunk and ending up getting raped or even killed. Underage drinking can also lead to the use of illegal drugs. Once a teenager sees how good the buzz feels, they will want to experience other highs.
Having open communication with your children is key to avoiding these types of problems. Discuss with your child the dangers of drinking, drinking and driving, and what could happen if you drink too much. Educate your children. Some of the best ways to curb underage drinking is to show them the effects and what could happen.
