A recent report is coming out showcasing something that I thought people already knew: that drinking alcohol at an early age can lead to increased alcohol dependence when older.

You can read about the story at Science Daily.

This study and previous work has shown many people studied who had started drinking before age 17 were alcohol dependent.

This could partially be from the decrease in the legal drinking ages for some countries youth.

This is a long-term significant consequence of heavy underage drinking. When you’d young, drinking is fun and cool and a way to relax or be wild. We don’t think that the weekend partying could lead to week night partying, and also could lead to sneaking booze in your soda bottles in class just to keep awake.

If not under control, drinking too much can cause alcoholism, which is a serious disease affecting millions of people. You can never be cured of it; you would be an alcoholic for life.

When partying, be safe. Drink in moderation. And be aware of your body. If you sense that you are relying on alcohol a bit too much, seek some help right away.

As prom and graduation season approach every year, schools and parents alike worry that there will be an increase in the amount of unsafe underage drinking. Kids like to have a good time at prom. “Hey! We graduated! Let’s have some beers!” becomes the mantra heard in the hallways and in the parking lots.

Last month El Camino High School played a prank on the student body. Officials kept students out of class, and polica officers went classroom by classroom telling students that their absent friend has been killed in a drunk driving accident over the weekend. Hysteria ensued when students realized their friends were dead….

… Only to find out this was a practical joke used to “scare straight” the student body before diving head first into prom and graduation without thinking.

You can read the story on CNN

I think this is a great plan to get the kids to not realize they are invincible before leaving home for the first time to go to college. Underage drinking is not legal, yet we all know it happens. I’m sure we’ve all done it! But when we do this, we must be aware of the consequences.

If you are planning on sneaking some drinks of Mike’s Hard Lemonade, White Zinfendel or my cousin’s favorite - Captain Morgan and iced tea - into your summer festivities, please plan accordingly.

• Plan on staying in - There are no drinking and driving accidents if no one is driving.
• Keep a sober cab handy - There will undoubtedly be someone you know who isn’t going ot drink. That person can be your chauffeur.
• Moderation, moderation, moderation - You may still be doing something illegal, but when you get home at night, your parents will be able to tell if you’re wasted, versus being just 1 drink in.
• Play it safe - If you don’t want to get in trouble, don’t do anything stupid. Underage drinking might just be that thing you want to stay away from.

During my senior year of high school, two junior classmates were killed in a horrific drunk driving accident. No one I knew drank and drove for the rest of that year.

Perhaps if my school had had a program like El Camino High School’s had, those two boys would still be alive.