Essay Sample about Alcohol, the Beverage of America

Ask any United States Citizen if they enjoy alcohol, and they will most likely say yes. In fact, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2019 concluded that 25.8% of people ages 18 and older reported binge drinking in the past month. There are many reasons to not engage in the consumption of alcohol including, but not limited to: Health Complications, Unstable Mental Health, and Unsafe Behavior.

The consumption of alcohol may lead to many future complications and diseases. According to the CDC, alcohol can cause many diseases ranging from High Blood Pressure to Cancer and Stroke. Alcohol consumption can also cause miscarriage, as when alcohol is consumed, it is rapidly absorbed into the blood and moves around the entire body and if the consumer is pregnant then the alcohol may spread to the unborn child and cause a miscarriage. According to a study by the World Health Organization in 2014, the number-one risk factor for death or disability in people ages 15-49 was alcohol misuse. 

In addition, alcohol consumers may also suffer from a variety of short-term risks like violence or injuries. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence states that 56.6 percent of incarcerations in America are related to the consumption of alcohol and that although some crimes may not be directly caused by alcohol, due to alcohol hindering coordination and judgement; crimes are often connected to alcohol in some way. The NCADD illustrates this point well, adding that “alcohol consumption does not in itself cause crime. But alcohol is disinhibiting, which means individuals under the influence of alcohol are more likely to do things they would not otherwise do. Alcohol is also addictive, which means some individuals will do things they would not otherwise do—repeatedly.” The CDC also adds to its previous statement about damage done to alcohol consumers by stating that alcohol is a direct cause of homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence. A trend between many articles on the topic of alcoholism is to mention its relation to crimes, with most involving violence; especially between intimate partners.

Alcohol’s hindrance of the mind doesn’t just cause injuries to others, binge-drinkers are much more likely to harm themselves through unsafe behavior and risky sexual activities that can result in STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) or unwanted pregnancies. Accidental pregnancy and abortion are topics that I, as a writer and as a minor, will attempt to avoid speaking on and avoid giving an opinion on. Although, a statistic that cannot be avoided is that more than 10 percent of minors have parents that suffer from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD, heavy alcohol addiction and dependence). Alcoholic parents have a tendency to abuse their children physically, emotionally, and/or physically and the children of unstable, alcoholic parents may fall on dangerous coping methods such as self harm or drug abuse. 

In the end, if you’re reading this as someone who consumes a fair amount of alcohol often (1 serving a day for women, 2 for men) and believe that you are in control of your consumption, good on you. But in the future, be sure to remember that your alcohol consumption may lead to previously stated consequences and that alcoholism may effect anyone whether you are a minor, a parent, or just an average human being. In the future, when you are asked if you frequently drink, I hope you may reply that you do not in full honesty.