This glamorous portrayal of alcohol may not be geared toward teens and kids, but it can still affect them. Plus, many parents and other adults use alcohol socially, having beer or wine with dinner, for example. Even though it is illegal to drink alcohol in the United States until you are 21, most teens can get access to alcohol, or will at least be exposed to it or have friends who drink. It is therefore up to you to make a decision whether to drink. Deciding to drink can have many harmful consequences.
Some consequences show up right away, and others build up over long periods of time.
Consider that the average teen first tries alcohol around age 13. This is long before the body or mind is ready to handle a powerful drug like alcohol. And the earlier kids start drinking, the more likely they will be to develop a problem with alcohol or drugs later in life. Many teens think that drinking alcohol will help them to relax and feel cool. Actually, drinking often makes people do stupid things.