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Louisiana Responsible Vendor Bar Card

Underage drinking is an increasing problem in the US. More than 4,300 teenagers die every year due to excessive use of alcohol. Many teenagers get involved in drinking at an early age without knowing its negative consequences. Not only is it illegal, underage drinking also poses various health risks. Let’s have a look at the major reasons why youth below 21 years of age shouldn’t touch alcohol.

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·        Poor Decision Making:

Underage drinking affects the decision making capability of a person. Due to impaired decision-making capability, they may not be able to fully understand how they should respond to a particular situation. As a result, teenagers under influence often make decisions that can harm them as well as others.

·        Alcohol Addiction:

People who start drinking before turning 21 are more likely to develop alcohol addiction. Their brain is still developing at this age, due to which they often fail to understand the long-lasting impacts of alcohol. On the other hand, people who turn to drinking after 21 are less likely to become alcoholics or drug addicts.

·        Health Impacts:

During teenage years, human body goes through rapid changes. Drinking alcohol at this age can affect organs and cause physical impairments. Underage drinking affects brain development and leads to memory impairment, behavioral disorders, learning impairment and decreased attention spans. It also negatively impacts their performance in academics, which often leads to mental health issues.

Underage drinkers tend to suffer from various side effects such as weight loss, headache and sleep disorders. It makes teenagers more aggressive and they indulge in other harmful activities such as smoking and drugs intake.

·        Road Accidents:

The number of annual road accident cases under influence is alarming. Alcohol affects concentration, coordination and judgement of a person. As a consequence, they are more likely to indulge in accidents. Teenagers who drink and drive often get involved in accidents and fatal injuries. It’s the responsibility of parents to ensure their children stay away from drinking.

·        Alcohol Poisoning:

Underage drinking increases the risk of alcohol poisoning. It usually affects people with weak immune system. Avoid drinking a large amount of alcohol in a single sitting to reduce the risks. Alcohol affects the parts of brain that control speech and balance. It causes nerve impairment and difficulty in breathing.

Major Reasons Behind Underage Drinking:

Here’s why some teenagers start taking alcohol at an early age:

• Teenagers with alcoholic parents are more likely to follow their footsteps.
• They get curious if they see their friends or other people around them consuming alcohol.
• Some of them may try it out of boredom.
• Teenagers often consume alcohol to show a rebellious and deviant behavior.
• Some teenagers take up drinking for a thrilling experience.
• Many teenagers drink alcohol to cope up with problems in life.

It’s the responsibility of bartenders to ensure they don’t serve drinks to underage customers. Ace Food Handler offers Pennsylvania RAMP Certification for server/seller and bar staff. It trains them on legal boundaries. It guides them on how to avoid serving teenagers and manage alcohol consumption by customers. Contact them to get certified!