Impacts in Health Risks and Outcomes on Underage Drinking

Alcohol is one of the most commonly used and misused forms of drug. It has been a serious ongoing public issue among adults for several years and is now beginning to take a toll on the younger generations. According to The Australian Health Direct, (2019) alcohol is the most widely used substance of abuse among the worldwide population and its youth, causing enormous health and safety risks. In particular, the consumption of ‘alcopops’, which are an alcohol-infused sweet drink of choice and a popular beverage most teens and young adults consume. Their ‘trendy packaging and fruity flavour’s capture the eyes of many teens and young adults being known as a pre-mixed drink, however, they have now found a new audience for underage drinkers ranging from ages of 14-17 years. The banning of alcopops has currently been implemented by the Australian Federal Government on new measures, to “discourage binge drinking by increasing the levels of excise and customs duty on ready to serve beverages” and “increase the price and tax on alcopops” (Precieuse et al., 2018, p.276). Implementing the ban on underage drinking positively changes current policies and practices allowing for better health equity throughout society. Reducing alcohol consumption for underage drinkers will prevent the enticement of “youngsters to begin drinking from an early age” (Mandal, 2018, p.1), which will minimize severe consequences later in life. This essay will discuss the health risk factors of underage drinking, how the banning of alcopops will benefit health and outcomes at a population level and analyse the likely impact on health equity to ensure the banning of alcopops will reduce health inequities.

Underage drinking and the misuse of alcohol can cause many health risks and outcomes that impact the life of an individual whether that be an adult or child. According to the World Health Organisation, (2015), they have accorded immense priority to the impact of alcohol consumption on public health and has stated it to be “the world’s fifth-leading risk factor for disease burden” (World Health Organisation, 2015, p.9). “Over 80% of all the alcohol consumed by 14-17-year-olds is drunk at risky/high-risk levels of acute harm” (Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, 2004), between the years of 1993 – 2002 an “estimated of 501 underage drinkers (aged 14-17yrs) died from alcohol-attributed injury and disease caused by high-risk drinking in Australia” (Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, 2004). Detrimental side effects can be encountered through the abuse of alcohol especially from a young age; “adolescence is a key time of behaviour change in an individual’s life cycle and for brain reorganization” (World Health Organisation, 2015, p.9). Consuming alcohol during this early period adversely affects these development changes. Young youth who consume alcohol are “more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviours that may result in illness, injury and death” (NCETA, 2009). The tendency for young individuals to binge drink on alcopops can be adverse for their health; binge drinking “elevates blood alcohol content to a harmful and dangerous level in a short period” (Department of Health and Human Services, 2015). Predisposing young individuals to consume alcohol increases the rise in “mental health and neuro-cognitive problems persisting into adulthood” (Marshall, 2014). Youth consuming alcohol “from the age of 15 years are reported to be four times more likely to meet the criteria of alcohol dependence” (Marshall, 2014). Health risks include; impaired brain function, loss of balance and motor skills and poor judgment. According to the Health Line, (2019) alcohol abuse is stated to have around 23 effects and outcomes on the human body some of which include; the digestive and endocrine glands, inflammatory damage, blood sugar levels, the central and nervous systems, sexual and reproductive health, skeletal, muscular and immune systems, in which can lead to many non-communicable diseases and cancers. Alcohol abuse negatively leads to addiction which causes dependency; “alcohol withdrawals can be difficult and life-threatening” (Health Line, 2019, p.1) causing symptoms of; anxiety, nervousness, nausea, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and heavy sweating. The health risks and outcomes of alcohol abuse hinder a negative effect on the individual whether that be an adult or child impacting the functioning of their lives.

Health inequities are defined as “systematic differences in health that can be avoided by appropriate policy and intervention and that are therefore deemed to be unfair and unjust” (Loring, 2014). Health inequities arise from many determinants and unequal distributions; categorized into biological, social, behavioural and environmental factors of which include; “power, income, goods, and services, poor and unequal living conditions and the difference in health-damaging behaviours” (Loring, 2014). Inequities that have been observed on underage drinking are based on socioeconomic status, education level, gender, ethnicity, and place of residence. Interactions among genetic factors and social/economic variables such as “poverty, malnutrition, health status and drinking culture” (Loring, 2014) can influence the development of an individual’s drinking career. Age is a major contribution to underage drinking as evidence “shows that younger people are most likely to drink heavily” (Loring, 2014). Biological factors for underage drinking come under four categories which include; “social; drinking to celebrate and engage with people, enhancement; drinking to feel a certain way, coping; cheer up or relieve stress and conformity; peer pressure” of certain social activities and the influence of social groups” (Loring, 2014). Socioeconomic factors include; “living with a dysfunctional family, lack of parental warmth and perceived parental rejection; among young people, a lack of family support and parental supervision and control” (Loring, 2014) has been correlated with underage drinking. Environmental factors include; drinking culture; drinking settings and venues across cultures, the individual’s religion and upbringing, exposure and education. These determinants play a negative role in underage drinking within society; affecting the different levels of an individual’s spectrum.

As over-consuming alcohol at an illegal age has been a major complication in society; Australia has already started to “implement a range of policies aimed at reducing harmful consumption and controlling alcohol availability, pricing and promotion” (VicHealth, 2015). Policies include; “regulatory approaches such as licensing and enforcement, public health alcohol pricing and taxation, regulation of physical availability, modifications on drinking environments; bans on-street drinking, drink driving, restrictions on marketing, education and persuasion and treatments and early interventions” (VicHealth, 2015). Some of these policies take into account social determinants; however, an equity-focused policy approach needs to be enforced explicitly addressing health inequalities targeting development, implementation, and evaluation. Other Interventions apposed in reducing health inequities with the banning of ‘alcopops’ include; controlling the availability of alcohol by restricting dense alcohol outlets in disadvantaged areas through “town planning, zoning, and licensing regulations” (VicHealth, 2015). Reducing the hours and days during which alcohol is sold can lead to fewer alcohol-related harms. A variety of health, education and welfare policies “influencing daily living conditions and access to health and social services” (VicHealth, 2015) as well as drink-driving countermeasures that include; random breath testing and maximum blood alcohol concentration laws. These interventions implement important measures that will reduce underage drinking and health inequities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, alcopops should be banned in reducing the amount of alcohol underage individuals are consuming. Many risk factors have been provided leading to negative outcomes in the individual's ongoing life as underage drinking can cause many implications such as; injury, illness or death. Many health determinants have been discussed that have impacted the lives of young individuals; stemming from biological, social, behavioural and environmental factors and the outcomes of inequities. Australia has enforced some policies that reduce the consumption of underage drinking and reduces the lack of inequity in society. However, more action needs to be enforced to reduce underage drinking and provide health equity, therefore, the banning of alcopops should be implemented for the public health and young individuals to lead happy sustainable lives.

References

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