By Mallorie Leal September 30, 2008
It’s a Friday night and you’re out with your friends just hanging out. Then someone shows up with alcohol and what was a calm gathering among friends starts getting rowdy. However, you make the choice not to drink although everyone else does. When you decide to go home and you get a ride with a friend who had been drinking. The next thing you know you’re in a hospital and you find out your friend crashed the car and the only way you can visit him now is in the cemetery.
According to Mothers Against Drunken Driving (MADD) vehicle accidents involving alcohol have the highest fatality rate among high school students compared to other causes of death.
High school is supposed to be the best years of our lives, so why do kids choose to jeopardize their futures with alcohol? When you choose to drink, you are putting yourself and others around you in dangerous situations. things such as vandalism, rape, unprotected sex, drug use, and violence happen more and more when alcohol is involved.
Too often on weekends teenagers go to parties where the focus is alcohol. Although they may be looking for a fun time, they end up so worried about being caught by the police or their parents they can’t even enjoy themselves. Moreover, many kids worry about what they may do or may happen to them while under the influence. Rather than worry about getting caught while you’re having a “good time”, why not just make the smart choice and not drink
Alcohol is legal when you’re 21 and it’s that way for a reason. Teenage bodies are still developing, same with our brains, and when you drink you are not enabling yourself to reach your full potential. Anyone can tell you not to drink and how bad it is but it is your choice. Whatever choice you make, you must be willing to deal with the consequences of your actions. Is one night of fun worth a lifetime of regret?
