Drinking makes you feel together even when you are totally out of control. That's why you're more likely to fall or have some other kind of accident when you are drunk.
Drinking makes you feel cool when you're really acting like a jerk. Next time your friends get together to drink, stay sober and just WATCH. Chances are you will see how silly and idiotic they look.
Drinking can make you lose your memory. It can be very embarrassing to have someone else tell you how funny you were last night, especially if you don't remember what you did or said.
Drinking takes away inhibitions. You may get relaxed enough to do or say things you'll later regret. Sometimes this can result in an unwanted pregnancy or an STD or insulting a friend.
Hangovers. If you really want to spend a day throwing up with a throbbing headache, here is your chance -- get really drunk.
Drinking makes you feel "grown-up". What is so great about this? Very often adults are drinking to forget that they are adults, with all the responsibilities that they have. In other words, they are trying to feel like children again! Imitating childish adults shouldn't make you feel like an adult.
Drinking to forget your problems. Trust me, your problems will still be there when you sober up, so what's the point?
Drinking to be accepted by friends. You have heard it called "peer pressure". Friendships that are based on drinking don't last too long. These friendships fall apart for the same reason that drinking gets boring... it is just the same thing over and over again. Those are not true friends and those relationships have nowhere to go. When you build friendships around common interests, sports, or another activity, your relationships can grow. This is a much stronger basis for friendship than sharing a six-pack.
Drinking because you're curious about alcohol. There really is no great mystery to it. After a while drinking will lose its thrill. That is why so many teenagers develop drinking problems. When drinking starts to lose its thrill they need more alcohol to enjoy themselves and they often lose their ability to find pleasure in other ways. Before long they have lost the chance to do well in school, lost their health, and the trust of friends and family.
One last thing to keep in mind. Teenagers are the largest source of transplant organs in the United States. That means more teens die suddenly in accidents than any other members of the population. Why is that? Think about it.
