Alcohol Games Can Impact Teen Bingeing – Binge drinking occurs in underage and young drinkers usually when they are playing drinking games. Such games can lead to alcohol poisoning and even death. Parents need to be aware of these games played by teens and young people, both in real life and online on social media. Statistics show that approximately 90% of alcohol that is consumed by underage drinkers is in the form of binging.
Teens and Binge Drinking
Binge drinking is defined as the harmful practice of drinking enough alcohol to be legally over the limit. For men, this totals to about 5 drinks in one session and for women, it’s about 4. When young people binge, it can cause unintentional injuries, car accidents, liver disease, unplanned pregnancies, STDs, assault, and fatalities.
Teens and Drinking Games
For a lot of teens and young adults, binge drinking starts out as a game. There are a lot of drinking games that older adults and parents don’t know about, but teens and young adults do. Some drinking games are:
- Participants film themselves chugging a ridiculously large amount of alcohol. They post the video to social media and challenge friends to do the same in 24 hours or risk ridicule. The dares are outlandish and include drinking out of toilets, drinking alcohol mixed with motor oil, and other dangerous stunts.
- 21 for 21. Imagine drinking 21 shots of liquor in one night. That’s what many young people do, or attempt to do, for their 21st birthday celebrations. Friends encourage them by buying round after round of shots. Not everyone can do it, but the challenging aspect of the game leads too many young people to drink far more than they can handle.
- Power hour. This game often played in college, has young drinkers taking a shot of beer every minute for an hour. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it adds up quickly and leaves the game player completely drunk by the end of the hour.
- The vodka eyeball. This is another game that has spread around the world thanks to the Internet and social media. The idea is to get drunk more quickly by pouring vodka into the eyes. The potential consequences of doing this are serious. It can cause real damage to the cornea and even loss of sight.
- Edward Fortyhands. In a nod to the movie “Edward Scissorhands,” this game involves having a 40-ounce bottle of malt liquor duct-taped to each hand. The participant must drink each bottle before their hands can be freed. The need to go to the bathroom or to do anything with their hands makes the participants drink dangerously fast.
Young people don’t understand how deadly these games can be. For them, the idea of getting hurt or even dying is a distant one. Parents are encouraged to talk to their teens or college students about how dangerous drinking games and binge drinking are. Alcohol Games Can Impact Teen Bingeing.
Binge drinking can lead to alcohol dependency and be harmful. There is life after addiction. The Villa Treatment Center is here to help you move past addiction to recovery. Call us to find out how we can support you on the journey.