Alcohol is a form of drink that when taken in excess, its contents in the blood increase causing the drinker to behave strangely. Based on this, excessive consumption of alcohol decreases one’s concentration and slows reaction speed. In connection to this, obsessive and irrepressible consumption of alcohol is referred to as alcoholism or alcohol addiction. It should be noted that, alcoholism has unconstructive effects on the consumer’s wellbeing, relationships and social standing. Studies have shown that, alcohol abuse leads to health complications whereby; the abusers develop digestive, psychological, mental and physical problems (American Government, 2005).
As it was revealed by the American government in the year 2005, alcoholism had led to the death of 75,000 Americans while at the same time shortening the lifespan of the abusers by an average of thirty years. According to the U.S. government’s report in the year 2005, alcohol abuse had become the third leading cause of unnecessary deaths in the country after tobacco and nutritional imbalance. In this case, a good example is shown in the report published by the CDCP in the year 2001. Based on this report, 34,833 Americans died from diseases related to consumption of alcohol like liver diseases and cancer. In relation to this, most of the road accidents that had occurred were caused by drivers driving under the influence of alcohol. It is of importance to note that, any person who takes more than two bottles of beer per day is an excessive drinker (Milhom, 2003).
Importantly, men are known to abuse alcohol more than women and hence they accounted for a larger percentage of deaths caused by excessive alcohol consumption in the U.S.A in the year 2005. In order to reduce these deaths, effective strategies must be put in place to minimize excessive drinking. On this basis, the government should increase the money paid for alcohol removal from the body and for the screening of alcohol abuse in hospitals. It is worth noting that, moderate drinking is beneficial to one’s health while excessive drinking leads to cases of high blood pressure, heart complications, cancer and liver cirrhosis. On the other hand, excessive drinking increases risks of road accidents and therefore alcohol consumption among drivers should be regulated. As a result of this, the American government aimed at reducing the rate of alcohol related deaths to four deaths per ten thousand people by the year 2010. It should also be noted that, alcohol should not be sold to or consumed by persons below eighteen years of age and excessive consumption of alcohol should be prohibited (Peacock, 1999).
It has been shown by the American government that, raising the money paid for alcohol removal in the body for the screening of alcohol abuse in hospitals would reduce its consumption. Additionally, the American government aimed at decreasing deaths caused by road accidents as a result of reckless driving resulting from excessive drinking. In this case, the argument against these measures is that; even though alcohol removal taxes are increased, there are some people who can afford them hence continuing with excessive drinking habits. In order to prevent this, no one should be sold an average of two beers per day or four beers and above per occasion (Woititz, 1990).
It has been revealed from the American government’s article on alcohol that, excessive drinking leads to diseases like liver cirrhosis, cancer and even deaths. In connection to this, excessive drinking should be regulated among drivers in order to reduce the number of deaths occurring as a result of road accidents. On this basis, the effective strategies put in place by the American government would help in reducing excessive alcohol consumption. On the other hand, these strategies did not consider the fact that some alcohol abusers would be rich enough to afford the increased alcohol excise taxes imposed (American Government, 2005).
To wind up, excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to one’s health, relationship and social standing hence should be avoided. By reducing rates of alcohol consumption among drivers, the number of deaths caused by reckless driving would reduce.
Reference list
American Government. (2005). Alcohol Linked to 75,000 U.S. Deaths a Year. Druid Hills: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web.
Milhom, H. (2003). Drug And Alcohol Abuse: The Authoritative Guide For Parents, Teachers, And Counselors. Cambridge: Da Capo Press.
Peacock, N. (1999). Drowning Our Sorrows: Psychological Effects of Alcohol Abuse. Canada: Chelsea House Publications.
Woititz, J. (1990). Adult Children of Alcoholics. Kansas: HCI Publications.