Like heroin or tranquilizers, it can alter moods, cause changes in the body, and become habit forming. It actually depresses the central nervous system. Just remember that each beer is as potent as a scotch and water. We do know that the smaller the body, the greater the effect of the alcohol. When alcohol is consumed in large quantities in a single sitting, acute inflammation of the stomach or pancreas, pneumonia, cessation of breathing and death sometimes occur.
Alcohol is also the most frequent contributor to the leading cause of death in teenagers.
Half their deaths can be attributed to alcohol-impaired driving and 50 to 60 percent of all adolescent suicides involve the use of alcohol. The single most dangerous and immediate consequence of alcohol use by young people may be that it seems both to produce and justify uninhibited behavior. Alcohol use is associated with a false sense of confidence, even invulnerability, that often leads to disregard for the health, safety and welfare of self and others. Youth who use alcohol also risk impairing their performance in school. Adolescent problem drinkers are less successful in school.