Does College Binge Drinking Lead to Alcoholism?

All of us going through our teenage years find ourselves tempted by pretty much the same things. Beer, cigarettes, and sex. We all have to experiment and rebel against the system a little. However, many students that go away to college find themselves in a different situation. They are totally away from their parents, and surrounded by new friends and new pressure for the first time in their lives. They have no curfew, and have people who are willing to purchase alcohol for them. With no restrictions or rules, the hard-partying habits, especially regarding alcohol, formed in college, can lead to a lifetime of trouble with these habits. It is best to stop these habits when you stop college, if not before. Following are some reasons why alcohol is so alluring to young adults, and the results of binging on that allure.

1. Alcohol is a symbol of adulthood.

As teens, we see our older peers and parents enjoying alcohol. Since it is the forbidden fruit until age 21, it become somewhat alluring to us. We see it as a rite of passage, and that if you have access to alcohol, you are instantly cool. We know who the kids are who have older brothers and sisters that can get alcohol for them, and by association with their older peers, they are cool, because they have access to the forbidden fruit. I think when there are limits and restrictions placed on obtaining alcohol when you are younger, that when you finally have a chance to get to it, then a binge drinking session is in order. This is how problems usually start.

2. In a new environment, alcohol is a social lubricant.