Alcoholism in adolescence

[1] "Alcohol consumption is recognized worldwide as a leading risk factor for disease, disability, and death" and is rated as the most used substance by adolescences.

[4] These patterns can then lead to various consequences including automobile accidents, substance use disorders, sexual activity, skipping school and failing grades.

[5] "Recent studies show that alcohol consumption has the potential to trigger long-term biological changes that may have detrimental effects on the developing adolescent brain, including neurocognitive impairment.

It also kills brain cells over time, which can cause behavioral changes, sleep deprivation, permanent damage to memory, and could eventually start to affect their grades.

One of the main ways to do this is to "Promote an understanding of underage alcohol consumption in the context of human development and maturation that takes into account individual adolescent characteristics as well as environmental, ethic, cultural and gender differences".

[8] A legal drinking age for the buying or consuming of alcohol is in place in many of the world's countries, typically with the intent to protect the young from alcohol-related harm.

In 2012, 27% of UK 16- to 24-year-olds drank very heavily at least once in the last week, more than any other age group.
Experts and governments have warned and discouraged a few alcoholic beverages including caffeinated alcoholic drinks , alcopop , and borg (pictured), that often makes young people binge drink.
Minimum legal age to purchase alcohol by country (2021):
Minimum age is 20
Minimum age is 19
Minimum age is 18
Minimum age is 17
Minimum age is 16
No regulation/no age set