Alcohol Problems And People example essay topic

With Coors brewing 25 million barrels a year and Miller brewing 49.5 million barrels a year, it has to go somewhere. Alcohol is enjoyed by many in the world but at what expense. Alcohol has changed over time and has taken many forms but the alcoholics stay the same. I am going to look at alcoholism and how it effects people in society and how they function to students and how it effects them in school. From as early as the Puritans who viewed alcohol as an important item. So important that when coming over on the Mayflower they brought more beer than water.

Their religious traditions even promote that alcohol was created by God and inherently good. Thus making alcohol a normal part of life. These views, which a few are still present today has a great impact on a persons daily life. Alcoholism is said to be a self-destructive form of activity in which the drinker compulsively drinks beyond the point where he or she can stop drinking for any extended period of time, even if he or she wants to (Dentin 15). There are many types of alcoholics in the world but the reaction on the behavior of men and women differ with each person who uses it (Chambers 17).

When used in moderation it can be a pleasant social lubricant. Most people use it in various degrees of moderation, but everyone who drinks is somewhat dependent on alcohol. The main problem is the appeal of alcohol. Such as that it anesthetizes the senses that make us feel fatigued which in fact explains the common but incorrect assumption that alcohol is a stimulant. It also has a tranquilizing effect, and permits many people to forget their subjective burdens temporarily (Chambers 17).

Although there is many facts about alcohol that show the bad sides to it there are many other myths and misconceptions about alcohol that attract people to it even more. Alcohol is thought to be a stimulant but it really just affects the brains control over inhibitions, reasoning, and judgment. People also think that it will help you sleep. Of course if you drink enough it will knock you out but it really interferes with the way you sleep. It will mess with your sleep patterns and does not promote restful refreshing sleep.

Another is that it will make you warm. Hence the burning sensation that you receive as it travels through the body. When in actuality it promotes heat loss. In a worst case scenario hypothermia at subnormal temperatures. Some of the biggest and most popular are that it makes you sexy. It basically lessens your judgment in turn making you think the opposite sex is more attractive.

Which can also contribute to sexual problems and in some cases ensure them. This goes along with the saying that alcohol gives you more confidence. In small amounts it may relax you for an occasion but it can also be harmful. Such as in going to a job interview or even driving a car which could cause your death along with others. Social life also has a great impact on the way we drink and sometimes why. From a wedding, party, or any festive occasion calls for drinking.

The football and baseball game and even concerts are events to drink. In society it has been a gesture of friendship to be asked to have a drink sense the beginning of alcohol. So why wouldn't you want to drink. If you didn't you might be rejected. Even advertising portrays everyone having a great time with there friends while drinking. Not the next morning with the good looking guy with his head in the toilet.

A group of people who had alcohol problems and people who did not were asked why they drink. Some of there responses were such as to relax, to socialize, to celebrate, to forget my worries, to relieve boredom, to enjoy myself, help me sleep, to reward myself, to refresh me, and to enhance a meal (Howe 5). Those are enough reasons to drink every day and on every occasion. These are also all reasons that lead to some one becoming an alcoholic. The problem of being an alcoholic does not only effect the drinker but everyone who comes in contact with that person. The drinkers family has such problems as marriage problems, health problems, legal problems, relationships and financial.

The next effect is on the community that the drinker is in. From road accidents, employment problems, accidents, vandalism, drunkenness, and fights. Then society in general even gets hit with the problem. Such as judicial cost, policing cost, crime, suicide, violence, treatment and rehabilitation cost, and alcohol related disabilities.

Young adults are some of the people who are affected the most. From a child being raised in an alcoholic family, all the way to being a college student. The typical college student is at a Turing point in their life. They have been use to that parent figure watching over them telling them what to do.

Then they are suddenly tossed into a world that is harsh and unforgiving. That world is college were some of the most pressure will be put on a single person. From joining that fraternity to doing a keg stand at the tailgate party. Alcohol misuse is said to be one of the biggest contributors in academic failure. Along with the treacherous next day hangover comes missing classes and class performance. It also has effects such as violence towards others.

One of the big concerns today is date and acquaintance rape. Which is also some times a byproduct of the misuse of alcohol (Howard 2). In recent studies it show that forty-one percent of academic problems come from alcohol abuse. Which twenty-eight percent drop out of school because of alcohol problems along with seven percent of those being freshmen ("Drinking" A Students Guide).

But why wouldn't companies want to pursue the college students. Around $5.5 billion dollars is spent by college students each year, being mostly beer. Its also is estimated that they drink four billion cans of beer. That is why beer manufactures spend between 15 and 20 million annually to promote their products. But it is not just the money factor with the college students. Its how all of this drinking affects them in there college careers.

When 430 million gallons of alcohol is consumed something is bound to happen. Such as 360,000 of the nations 12 million undergraduates will die from alcohol-related causes while still in school. That is more than will receive their M.A. and Ph. D. degrees ("Drinking" A Students Guide). Also when you have four percent of all college students drinking daily other bad things can happen along with death. Seventy-five percent of male students and fifty-five percent of female students involved in acquaintance rape had been drinking or using drugs at the time ('Drinking' A Students guide).

Along with that the number of women that drink to get drunk has tripled in the past ten years. Mix that with a good frat party and it spells disaster. I have personally seen the effects of drinking on students. From friends getting D.U.I.'s and various other violations to the worst case scenario. I have even lost a friend to drinking that got in a car with a drunk driver. Although you feel invincible that is the last thing you are.

It is good to indulge in various alcoholic beverages from time to time but the key is knowing what your limit is and being able to stop at that limit. On the other side of things there is a small decline in the trend of drinking on college campuses. This can be happening for many different reasons. From the different college drinking programs to the students just realizing what happens when you do drink in excess. There are many programs today that will give help to alcoholics.

Such as Alcoholics Anonymous which help people with drinking problems. There is also such organizations against drinking such as MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers and also SAID which is Students Against Drunk Drivers. Organizations like these play a key role in society, helping the fight against alcoholism which seems to be a loosing battle some times. We have taken a look at alcoholism in society and in college students. But in the end it all comes down to that alcohol is the number one abused chemical substance in the world. So it just goes to show that we need to bring it back under control.

Especially in the younger people of the U.S. It could be a major problem if we let it get out of control. And the first place to get it under control is with yourself..