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Drinking alcohol is illegal if you are under 21. But is this the real reason you shouldn't drink alcohol? Well, here's something else to keep in mind: when you are intoxicated, not only do you lose your self-control, but you lose your ability to make decisions. You could do something -- and we will leave the possibilities to your imagination -- that you would regret, that could ruin your future, or that could injure or kill you.
Do your friends drink? If so, does that mean that you have to drink? You are an individual. You have the right and the power to make your own decisions. Do what you think is right, and if your friends don't respect the fact that you can make your own choices, it might be time to reevaluate friends. Do you drink because you are having problems? Because nobody understands you? Alcohol is only a temporary fix. Drinking's not going to help your problems, and it won't even help you feel better about them. All it will do is make new problems. What you have to do is confront your problems, find someone to talk to. You are not alone in this world -- there are people that care about you. How would I know? Trust me. Talk to a friend. One more thing: drinking does not make you look or act cool. You may think you're acting cool, but alcohol makes you act like an idiot. It's a fact. Keep it in mind. As a teen, you might have to deal with drunk driving at some point. Remember this: friends don't let friends drive drunk. If one of your friends is planning on driving home drunk, provide him or her with an alternative. Remember that your friend may not be willing to listen, due to the judgement-impairing quality of alcohol. But don't give up. Remember, you could be saving your friend's life, or an innocent person's life. Do the right thing. Also remember this: never, never drive with someone who has been drinking. You're asking for it. Even if you have to take his or her keys away, do it. Again, you are dealing not only with your own life but with the life of the driver. Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) promotes this idea that you might want to try: a parent contract. This is a written agreement that you and your parents write and sign, which states that there is the possibility of you getting into a drunk driving situation, and that in this situation, both you and your parents will do something about it. If you have been drinking, or if your designated driver has been drinking, you agree to call your parents for a ride, no matter what time it is. Your parents agree to pick you up no matter what the circumstances, but can reserve the right to discuss later why you got into the situation. Your parents must also agree to abstain from drinking when they drive. This way, you know that you always have a backup plan. As a teen, it may be difficult to avoid getting in a situation involving drunk or drugged driving. It is important for you to think ahead and plan for these kinds of situations, so you will be ready if the situation occurs.
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