Topic: Teen alcoholism in Thailand General purpose: to inform Specific purpose: to inform the audience about the facts,

causes and effects of teen alcoholism. Central idea: Drinking alcohol may be considered by the teens as the only way of having fun this fun can make our life miserable and most of the time it kills us or our loved ones. Introduction: Most of us here consume alcohol and many of us might have even started consuming since we were in high school or maybe younger than that. Teen alcoholism is a serious problem all over the world especially in Thailand. Many of the teens are not aware of the consequences of alcohol and the ones who are aware of it might just ignore it as they feel that consumption of alcohol is a main way of having fun. However, it is not as good or as fun as it seems especially when we face with the consequences.

Body: Teen alcoholism has been on the rise in Thailand and there are many more facts relating to it. Also there are many causes and effects related to teen alcoholism. 1. Thailands alcohol consumption is amongst the highest per capital globally and it has gained the 8th ranking in the alcohol market a. More than 12 million Thais who are 14 years and older are current drinkers. This is about one-third of the total population of that age group. b. Teen drinkers are mostly male which consist about 85 percent of all the teen drinkers but the female drinkers are now on the rise. c. Teen drinkers are about 40% of the total drinkers which consist of 15% of 14-19 age group and 25 percent of 20-24 age group. (A ban on sale, 2004) d. About 50% of the teens in Thailand begin drinking at the age of 15 and about 4 in 5 drinkers are already heavy drinkers. e. In Thailand, about 20000 teenagers who are under the age of 21 die due to drinking and driving. f. Among teenagers which are from age 12-19, the males drinkers consume of average of about 118.5 grams of alcohol per drinking day and female consume about 61.5 grams and these figures are continuously rising. (Thailand drinking age, n.d) g. About 70 Thai teenage girls out of every 1,000 aged 15-19 or about 7% get pregnant and the main
cause of this is unsafe sex after alcohol consumption. (Thai

15-19 pregnancy, 2011)

2. There are many different causes which influences teens in Thailand to start drinking at an early age. a. The main reason is the peer pressure or the need to fit into the society. Most of the Thai students drink in order to fit in with their friends as drinking is considered to be a social activity which can make a person more confident and be able to fit in a friends circle. Most th of the students are pressurized by their friends to drink. (Thailand 8 rank, 2010) b. Another reason can be stress and depression. Teens in Thailand have the perspective that drinking alcohol can help to reduce their stress and depression as it makes them forget about it temporarily. Many of the teens also drink during their exams to help relieve stress. c. Also the divorce rate in Thailand is increasing due to which there are more single parent and many dysfunctional families. Children would not be given proper care by their parents and they would just go out and drink instead in order to forget about the family conflicts or just to avoid the loneliness at home. (Thailand 8th rank, 2010) d. Other minor reasons can include family drinking habit, lack of knowledge, low self esteem, boredom and easy access to alcohol.

3. Teenagers brains are still developing and when they consume alcohol, it gets absorbed into their bloodstream which has many negative effects. a. Alcohol is a depressant and it makes the function of the central nervous system slower as it blocks messages which is trying to get to the brain. This will alter a persons perception, emotions, movement and vision and also hearing. (Teenage drinking facts, n.d.) b. Car accidents are the main cause of death among the people of age 15 to 20 and these accidents are caused due to drinking and driving. This happens because alcohol causes a person to lose the control of mind. (Thailand drinking age, n.d) c. Another main effect that teenage alcoholism causes is intoxication. There are different stages of it. First is happy, second is excited, the third stage is confused, fifth is in a stupor and last is comma which eventually leads to death of a person. d. Alcoholism also leads to teens making decisions that can cause serious problems. Many of the people become violent when drunk so this leads to crimes and this has been on the rise in Thailand. (Teenage drinking facts, n.d.) e. Other effects include cancer in the liver, kidney, heart disease, family problems, teen pregnancy and many other major problems.

Conclusion: Teens drink in order to fit into the society or for many other reasons and this has caused a lot of problems in the Thai society. Alcohol is considered as a way to relieve stress but it actually increases it after we face with the consequences. Alcohol has caused many problems not only physically but also mentally and these consequences can even be fatal. I would conclude by saying that alcohol sure does not end our tensions and problems but if we do not stop consuming it then one day it will end

our life instead. First you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink

takes you. u can add dis if u want.

References:

A ban on the sale of cigarettes and liquor to people under 18. (2004, December 17). Thailand.prd. Retrieved from: http://thailand.prd.go.th/view_news.php?id=514&a=2

Alcohol. (n.d). Teens health. Retrieved from: http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/alcohol/alcohol.html#

Thailand has gained 8th ranking in alcohol market. (2010, December 15). Thaihealth. Retrieved from: http://en.thaihealth.or.th/events/thailand-has-gained-8th-ranking-alcoholmarket (Thailand 8th rank, 2010)

Teenage drinking facts. (n.d.) Alcoholism. Retrieved from: http://www.the-alcoholism-guide.org/teenage-drinking-facts.html

Thai 15-19 pregnancy rate 2nd highest. (2011, February 14). Bangkokpost. Retrieved from: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/221522/thailand-has-secondhighest-teen-pregnancy (Thai 15-19 pregnancy, 2011)

Thailand drinking age. (n.d.) Thailand. Retrieved from: http://www.thailand-th.net/thailand_drinking_age.html