How do people respond to peer pressure to drink?
We live in a world where alcohol use is heavily promoted by the alcohol industry. Sporting events and music events go hand in hand with tons of alcohol promotion. While it may seem that everyone is drinking, the truth is that lots of people don’t enjoy alcohol and live fun lives without it. Some people have religious views about not drinking. Some have a family history of alcoholism and want to avoid any potential problems. Others just don’t like the feeling. When a person decides not to drink alcohol it might seem strange at first, since giving gifts of alcohol, bringing alcohol to a party, and buying someone a drink in a restaurant are quite common friendly actions among many adults. But more and more, people are respecting that some folks drink while others don’t. Teens will most likely feel a lot of pressure to drink, starting as early as middle school. And it makes sense in a way, since going through puberty can create lots of confusing and complex feelings—and alcohol can reduce
