Analysis of Article about Binge Drinking - Essay Example

1. Binge Drinking TIME magazine, a worldwide publication, published in its internet archives, an essay by former editorand correspondent, Barrett Seaman, dated Sunday August 21 2005. Entitled "How Bingeing Became the New College Sport" and subtitled "And why it would stop if we lowered the drinking age", this is both enlightening and controversial. Mr. Seaman has spent considerable time traveling around US and other college campuses while conducting research for his book - 'Binge: What Your College Student Won't Tell You'. Together with his credentials as an honest and outspoken journalist, this suggests we will be given a true insight into the subject. The author explains that college students under the legal age of 21, are drinking large quantities of 'hard liquor', like vodka, in the privacy of dorms and apartments, as a prelude to going out for the evening. This is a new college tradition, dating from the 1990s, a dangerous activity which often results in hospitalization and sometimes, death. He claims that the government made a grave error in legislation which prevents people aged 18-20 from legally consuming alcohol, driving the practice underground, making it attractive as "forbidden fruit". He expresses the belief, founded on experience and research, that if the legal age were lowered to 18, young people would learn to use alcohol sensibly, in an open, mixed-age, social environment, this this a "saner approach", one which he observed at McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Like many young people, I have tried alcohol, mostly just a few beers at firs, which I found gave me a pleasant 'buzz', made me laugh and feel more relaxed. But I always stopped at three bottles, it is so fizzy and can make me feel bloated. My friend's older brother usually bought the beer for us, when we first started drinking, and we only ever did it with friends, no adults were 2. around. The boys usually drank a lot, often getting sick, aggressive, bothering us girls too much, and even passing out. That spoiled the little parties for many of us and made me take care never to get so drunk as to lose control. Until one weekend, when my friend's parents were away and she had a party. There were about 20 of us and it was fun at first, laughing and dancing, drinking beer and eating pizza. Her brother said we should really try some 'real booze', we were missing out, and so I drank three big glasses of Southern Comfort and lemonade, after having had three beers. It tasted fine, I felt good for a while. Suddenly, the room was spinning, voices seemed louder, I kept bumping into people and furniture and finally, I went outside and lay down in the grass. There was nobody else around me, I was scared and felt awful, the moon seemed huge and the sounds of everything were magnified. Of course, I was sick, and lay there alone all night. At least I think I was alone - I do not know, I have no clear memory. I woke up, chilled, at dawn, filthy and smelling bad, with sore eyes, head, stomach, everything. I wanted my mom or dad to be there, to take care of me. I was seventeen at the time and I swore, "Never, ever, again." But I do still have my few beers, and never more than that. We only did our drinking once in a while, not every week-end or evening. If the freedom of being away from home, going to college was available, then I can understand why some people might go slightly crazy, or just want to be part of the crowd and join in with 'pregaming'. This could be because they have never tried alcohol and it looks like fun, or like me, they has used it before going to college. Either way, Seaman's idea of bringing down the legal age, and having students and adults having a drink together in a social, more controlled setting, might have a positive impact on preventing dangerous binge drinking. I know the government has programs in place to address the problem, I also know that back in 1997, a boy died and everybody got together to try to do something about it all. A summary of the article would be as follows: College students are binge drinking under 3. the legal age, secretly and at great risk to their health and lives. This may be due to 1984 laws, legislated as a result of a campaign by Mothers Against Drink Driving. Since the 1990s, college administrators have noted the change from drinking beer to hard liquor. If the legal age was lowered to 18, young people would learn to handle drinking openly, with more control and this would prevent it being driven underground. Many college authorities expressed the desire for this lowering of age to be made law, in order to better monitor and control student drinking. The author suggests that though there might be an upsurge in binge drinking at first, should the law be changed, but that this would settle down as the demands of study took effect. Drink drivers should be severely punished, regardless of age, and young people should be allowed to drink sensibly in public, not risking their lives in secrecy. ALTERNATIVE OWN EXPERIENCE PARAS: Because my parents were pretty liberal in their way of bringing us up, we were always allowed to have, on special occasions, a little wine or beer. This meant, that from about the age of twelve or thirteen, I knew what it tasted like and was not particularly impressed, as I much preferred a Coke or a glass of milk. The idea of drinking was never made out to be evil or taboo, and so has never held any interest, or taste of "forbidden fruit" for me or my two brothers. I have never seen anyone in our circle of family and friends drunk or out of control, yet there is always plenty to drink when parties and get-togethers happen. I believe that the attitude of my parents has given me the right attitude to alcohol and its use, and can take it or leave it. There is no need to be drawn into such practices as drinking to get high, drunk or sick even, it is not necessary in order to have a good time. While I realize that not everybody thinks like this, and may want to join in, if I could, I would try to influence my friends to follow my way of thinking. It is safer and at the moment, legal, though I agree that lowering the age to 18 is a good idea, bringing drinking into the open, depriving it of the attraction of secrecy. Works Cited Seaman, Barrett, August 21 2005. Time Magazine Archive Article - How Bingeing Became the New College Sport: And why it would stop if we lowered the drinking age. 22 June 2006 http://www.time.com/time/archive/printout/0,23657,1096516-0,00.html Read More