BINGE DRINKING

EXAMPLE


Binge drinking refers to consuming alcoholic beverages with the intention to become intoxicated in a short period of time. It is more common among males during adolescence or early adulthood. Young people do it out of curiosity or because of peer pressure. They think alcohol will make them feel good and reduce stress. Binge drinking affects your immune system and can result in brain damage or lead to alcoholism.

AUDIO SCRIPT


Alcohol is generally tolerated as a socially acceptable drug though its use has numerous serious health risks. It is inevitable for young people to experiment with ‘booze,’ therefore it is up to the parents to talk over the sensible drinking habits and hazards of heavy drinking, and encourage little or even better, no alcohol consumption. Parents are influential role models for their children, especially in the pre-adolescent age, so it is important for them to set a positive example by practicing responsible drinking.

Estimates in many of the developed countries show that almost all teenagers have tried alcohol at least once till the age of 15, and what is even more alarming, half of them consume alcoholic beverages on a weekly basis.

Binge drinking is threatening not only because of health risks, but because it leads to other dangerous situations like unsafe sex, drink driving, and brawling. Misuse of alcohol is particularly worrying when combined with other drugs. Such situations frequently end with impaired brain development, injury, or even death.

Believing your teenager will never taste an alcoholic drink is rather utopian. It is better to educate him or her about the downsides of alcohol abuse, advise them how to say no when offered alcohol, talk about the traps of drunk driving and uncontrolled behavior, and most importantly, set a good example and moderate your drinking.

WORDS TO REMEMBER

inevitable = (adj.) impossible to avoid
brawl = (n.) a rough fight
impaired = (adj.) disabled, handicapped
moderate = (v.) make something less extreme

ACTIVITY IDEA

Search the internet or thumb through newspapers and magazines to find articles on teenage drinking. Make a poster or a presentation covering issues related to the topic.
For example:

The effects of drinking alcohol
Statistics on drinking in Slovenia/EU/world
Differences in drinking habits according to gender

Try to get several articles, remember to be critical of what you read, and use only relevant information.