21st Birthday Drinking

Drinking on 21st Birthday becomes a dangerous custom among young Americans. Recent study shows that such overuse of alcohol may cause serious health hazard. 21 is legal drinking age in the United States and young people use  their birthday to use their official right when they turn 21. The study performed in the Columbia Universities proves that 21st Birthday drinking becomes a serious problem which may bring danger to young people.

According to this research “83% of the students reported drinking on their 21st birthday” (Rutledge).  Moreover, big percentage of young people overuse alcohol during their 21st birthday celebration. These numbers vividly illustrate that people overuse alcohol during their celebration. Such overuse may have serious medical outcomes. It may result in intoxication and other health problems. Unfortunately very often young people are unaware of bad consequences of  extreme consumption of alcohol. The situation is complicated by the fact the many young people try alcohol drinks for the first time during the 21st anniversary.  Statistic shows that drinking during the 21st birthday has negative impact on both, men and women: “ 34% of men reported consuming 21 drinks or more. 24% of women consumed 21 drinks or more” (Rutledge). Till the 21st century attitude to male and female drinking on the 21st birthday is different. Traditionally drinking and getting drunk is considered mainly male practice. In many societies drinking is estimated as symbol of masculinity and during the 21st celebration it indicates the transition from boy to man. Unfortunately during the recent time more and more girls turn to drinking as well. The limits between drinking men and women become less noticeable. Despite statistics shows the difference between male and female drinking this difference gradually disappears.  “Almost half of the men (49%) and 35% of the women had estimated BACs of 0.26. The researchers noted that a blood alcohol content level of 0.26 is associated with "potential serious medical outcomes," including disorientation, coma and even death” (Rutledge). These facts give enough reasons to pay attention to the seriousness of the problem. The reaction of the society and lack of  attention to the problem make the situation even more difficult. 

Unfortunately, 21st birthday drinking became a kind of custom and according to these custom drinking is regarded as a normal behavior and even becomes the sign of maturity and new social position. Public institutions and educational institutions do not pay necessary attention to the problem. Young people are influenced by their friends and the idea that birthday drinking is prestigious becomes more and more popular in the contemporary society. As states Patricia Rutledge in her conclusions to investigation: "The risks here are not limited to those with a history of problematic drinking, and there needs to be a strategy to address a custom that can lead to alcohol poisoning and, possibly, death." The problem grows and unfortunately more and more young people choose alcohol as a symbol of becoming adult.

Danger to health is not the only problem with 21st birthday drinking.  The problem also has moral aspect. The practice of extreme use of alcohol during  celebrations creates wrong perception of alcohol in general and drinking in particular. For many young people alcohol becomes the symbol of maturity and freedom. It becomes the symbol of adultery and symbolized passage to the new stage of life. In many young groups alcohol becomes a kind of rite-of passage.  21 drinks is anther rite which is often used during the celebration of 21st birthday. The number is connected with the age. 21 drinks is a big amount and will definitely have negative consequences on human health. Such an amount of alcohol is definitely an overdose even for those who consume  alcohol not for the first time. Such an amount is even more dangerous for young people who try alcohol for the first time during their 21st birthday.  

In reality 6 drinks is regarded as normal quantity of alcohol which will not have severe negative consequences for human health. Cigarettes complicate  the situation with alcohol consumption. Alcohol and cigarettes make very bad combination. People get drunk quicker and impact on health is worse if to compare harm caused by the consumption of alcohol without smoking. Drinking during the 21st birthday becomes a kind of tradition in the American society. This tradition has negative consequences on the health of separate individuals. It also has negative impact on the moral of the society. Alcohol becomes the symbol of adult life and maturity. Drinking alcohol becomes the first thing young people do in their adult life. This creates negative psychological conclusions and creates wrong perception of the role and function of alcohol in everyday life. Like many things which are prohibited, alcohol becomes the symbol of  something important and desired. In contrast to many ancient societies, where the rite of initiation was designed in order to check up psychical power and wit of young people, alcohol becomes the right to pass in the contemporary American society.
 

Works Cited

Rutledge, Patricia C., et al Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. "21st Birthday Drinking: Extremely Extreme" June 2008.