Binge Drinking Culture

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Recommended: Alcohol abuse among adolescents

Binge Drinking in New Zealand has become one of the most increasing social issues among young people. Adolescents consumption of alcohol could be more harmful to young people than adults. The purpose of this essay is to examine adolescent binge drinking culture in New Zealand and to consider the influences, effects and solutions to adolescent binge drinkers.

The term binge drinking is defined as an action of consuming a large amount of alcohol and getting drunk in a short period of time, which can also be referred to the consumption of five or more drinks in a row by men and four or more drinks by women over a two hour period. According to research carried out by a Former Brainwave trust Adele Redmond(2015), after adults binge drink, it only
Young binge drinkers frequently relate to an environment that surrounded by those who appear to support heavy drinking. Aside from that, advertising on television and large billboards of alcohol around the community seems to draw young people’s attention more often. Dr Gro Brundtland, General director of WHO(2001) claimed that adolescents currently have become an important target for marketing of alcoholic product. Since Alcohol seems to be commonly involved in every family celebration in New Zealand therefore young teenagers will consider drinking as a normal part of life while growing up. Recent statistics on peer pressure showed 55% of adolescents tried out alcohol for the first time because they felt pressured by their friends and less than a quarter getting hold of their own drink. Young adolescent came from different backgrounds and they have different views toward binge drinking. The pressure in human beings daily lives is apparently one of the most common reason that influences adolescents to binge drink. They use alcohol as a way to forget about their problems and issues and for these reasons, adolescents tend to look at alcohol as the way to reduce stress. However alcohol will only help for a short period of time and instead of helping out with problems, it will add on more issues such as financial and personal issues. According to a Youth survey in 2007, 34% of
Families can help prevent underage drinking by staying involved in their children’s lives. It is important for families to pay attention to what’s happening with their teens. In addition parents, teachers and police around the community should deliver a message that underage binge drinking is not beneficial. For example, provide programs for school and family, which motivates young people to change their perspective against alcohol and inspire them to focus more on their life rather than drinking.

In conclusion, today’s generation will identify binge drinking as fun while at the same time they are risking their own lives so they can fit in. Working together to create a community that will help young people change their aspects of binge drinking can not only be beneficial for young people but also for the entire community in New

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