elp or treatment.12.Freshman orientation should start long before students arrive on campus” (182-185).Societal attitudes can sway a teenager’s behavior when it comes to alcohol. When advertisers make it seem cool to use alcohol and give the impression that everyone uses it, teens want to use it too. When teens are surrounded by images, advertising, and television shows that depict alcohol as something good, it makes it hard for them to resist at least trying it. A series of recent government studies shows that alcohol abuse is by far the biggest drug problem facing America’s youth, and existing laws do little to address it (Novello ,1).The media has a big influence on teens and drinking. A Stanford University Scientist reported, “The more television and music videos teenagers watch, the more likely they are to start drinking alcohol” (Elias, 1). For every hour of music videos watched a day, teens’ odds of starting drinking rose 31% and for every hour of daily television boosted chances of starting alcohol use by 9 % (1). Some 69% of prime-time TV programs have scenes of alcohol use, averaging 3.5 scenes an hour. Also, music videos most popular with teens show 4.2 drinking scenes per hour (1).Commercials also play a major role in teenager’s decisions. Much alcohol advertising goes beyond describing the specific qualities of the beverage. It creates a glamorous, pleasurable image that may mislead youth about alcohol and the possible consequences of its use (Novello, 1). “Advertisements and other media images tell them, ‘Drink me and you will be cool, drink me and you will be glamorous, drink me and you will have fun!’ Or even worse, ‘Drink me and there will be no consequences.’”(1). The media will use anything and everything to lure teens into their web. “There are party scenes, with young people on beaches who look like teens” (Elias, ...
