Is peer pressure the leading factor of teenage alcoholism ?

Question

if so, why ?

please i need your opinions! its for my project im doing this survery to ask people and see what you guys think!

Answer 1

There may be some influence to start drinking but not for alcoholism.  It is also not nearly as simple as the media etc make out.  We need to differentiate between peer pressure and peer preference.  Peer pressure is when there is some coercion, real or implied, to perform or join in in a behaviour or activity.  Peer preference is when the person chooses which group to hang out with.  

For example, the group who drink may seem much more interesting and fun than the group who don't.  So a teen may choose to hang out with that group.  This is not coercion but a deliberate lifestyle choice.  The peer pressure explanation is over used as it is a good way of blaming others for leading our 'good' kids astray, rather than admit that our kids may make an informed decision to drink because it is a lot of fun.

The problem governments face with health education leading to 'informed choice' is that people may choose a different course of action than they would like.

Answer 2

Of teen age drinking, yes. Alcoholism, no. It is a physiological dependence on alcohol. not psychological.

Answer 3

yes. no matter what sort of upbringing you have had and no matter where you are, consuming alcohol is made to seem like a cool thing. on tv, movies, and general conversations it is always associated with the best parties or any other good time.

most teenagers aren't really trying to find themselves they are trying to belong, so usually they do whatever their particular group is doing.

some teenagers might be going through some personal things and they don't know how to cope, so they may drink but i think they will usually find someone else to drink with them as they try to solve there problems, and i seriously doubt in those cases it will be an adult, it will be a peer.

it get's even worse in college when 17-19 year olds think that they can really drink w/o getting into trouble because their parents aren't around.

think for a second marijuana usage increased amongst teens when it was considered the cool thing to do, then after that it was exctascy, because it was considered cool ... beer and liqour have always been coincided with a good time, and i am willing to bet 9 times out of 10 when ever someone first tries any of that stuff it's not alone... it's with peers.

Answer 4

no, it's definitely teenage stupidity.

Answer 5

No it is not

Teenagers are perfectly capable of making decisions.

Peer pressure is just an excuse

Answer 6

I think it is different in every sitiuation. For instance I am 15 and this weekend i was around people four and up years older than me. I was asked straight up if i wanted a beer and i happly told him no, because i have already tried beer and i didnt feel like it so clearly iv already experianced it. For others, they drink because they truely enjoy the taste of the drink. But for some people, like the kids that are 14 and thier parents never even let them taste wine is guna drink because of curiosity and just to try it.(which means the have a low tolorance and dont know when to stop)  Peer pressure i honestly believe isnt the main reason. Also, a lot of teenagers are just simply over dramatic and will do things to give themselves problems so people will give them attention.

Answer 7

well I think it is and it is not.. peer pressure can influence teens to drink...because fi u don't do so they say u r not as cool as them,...but i think teenagers.. are mature enough to think what is good or bad for them...if they wanna have fun or if they actually wanna do something out of their lives.

Answer 8

A leading factor I would have to say yes though Im not sure if its the only one. just wanting to have your own opinions and to experiment for your self.

Answer 9

to me, no. Being a teen myself, I think that teenage alcoholism is caused by a search for a meaning to their lives. If you haven't noticed, divorce rates are up, and teens have a hard time getting over it and many other things that root from the family. Peer pressure is a part of it, but not the leading factor. Alcohol makes teens emotions go away for a short time, so they keep doing it over and over until they are addicted.