The Power of Persuasion

Teenagers using alcohol has always been a concern, but if it has been a concern so long, why is it still an issue? How are teenagers still drink driving and abusing alcohol if so many people are aware of this problem? The answer maybe right in front of us, on our TV screens. Advertisers use their ads to appeal to younger people, especially people under 21. These ads often include people having a great time while drinking the alcohol, and all of the people are young and attractive. This causes teenagers to think that if they want to have fun, they need to drink.
The pressure on teens to use alcohol is not only coming from the television, but there are many real life situations in which  teen might be pressured to drink. For example, if they are at a party, they will most likely be offered a drink. Even if they are hanging out with a friend one on one, that friend might offer alcohol, too. Also, an older person who is over 21 may suggest that the teen drinks alcohol. Furthermore, if a teenager is having a bad day, somebody may give them alcohol and tell them that the drink will "make them feel better." The teen may drink it because they will do anything to make them self feel better, and therefore they believe the person. Lastly, if drinking is a common thing to do where a kid grows up, then they may not even look at drinking as a bad thing because of how normalized it is, and they may just drink because they think it's the "normal thing to do."
The affects of both advertisements and peer pressure is evident just from the statistics of teenage drinking and driving. For example, according to Drive-Safely.net, 24% of teens reported that within the previous month, they had ridden with a driver who had been drinking alcohol, according to  a national survey conducted in 2011. Something needs to be done to show teens that drinking is not cool, and it is not fun. Alcohol can ruin lives of many, especially if you start drinking as a teen.