CONTINUED AGAIN !!!!!
How Can I Avoid Drinking?
If all your friends drink and you don't want to, it can be hard to say
"no thanks." No one wants to risk feeling rejected or left out.
Different strategies for turning down alcohol work for different people. Some
people find it helps to say no without giving an explanation, others think
offering their reasons works better ("I'm not into drinking," "I
have a game tomorrow," or "my uncle died from drinking," for
example).
If saying no to alcohol makes you feel uncomfortable in front of people you know, blame your parents or another adult for your refusal. Saying, "My parents are coming to pick me up soon," "I already got in major trouble for drinking once, I can't do it again," or "my coach would kill me," can make saying no a bit easier for some.
How Does It Affect the Body?
In very small amounts, alcohol can help a person feel more relaxed or less anxious. More alcohol causes greater changes in the brain, resulting in intoxication. People who have overused alcohol may stagger, lose their coordination, and slur their speech. They will probably be confused and disoriented. Depending on the person, intoxication can make someone very friendly and talkative or very aggressive and angry. Reaction times are slowed dramatically - which is why people are told not to drink and drive. People who are intoxicated may think they're moving properly when they're not. They may act totally out of character.
What Happens When People Drink?
When people drink too much, they
might do or say things they don't mean. They might hurt themselves or other
people, especially if they drive a car. Someone who drinks too much also might
throw up and could wake up the next day feeling awful - that's called a
hangover. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to alcohol poisoning, which can
kill a person. Over time, someone who abuses alcohol can do serious damage to
his or her body. The liver, which removes poisons from the blood, is especially
at risk.
Because alcohol can cause such problems, the citizens and government leaders in this country have decided that kids shouldn't be allowed to buy or use alcohol. By setting the drinking age at 21, they hope older people will be able to make good decisions about alcohol. For instance, they don't want people to drink alcohol and drive cars because that's how many accidents occur.
