Alcohol use is related to a high number of health problems in the United States. The reason is that half of Americans consume beverages that contain ethyl alcohol. In terms of prevalence, university students are the ones who drink alcohol the most. Current statistics show that more than 80% of college students drank on one or more occasions (Weiten et al., 2018). There is a variety of reasons why college students are the most frequent drinkers. On the one hand, alcohol’s main effect that lessens tension and anxiety is attractive for students that want to relax. On the other hand, alcohol use may indicate the presence of psychological problems, such as low self-esteem.
The impact that alcohol has on the human body and cognitive functions primarily depend on the consumer’s mood, background, whether or not he or she has food in the stomach, and consumption experience. However, the most notable effect of alcohol is a temporary increase in self-esteem and a decline in anxiety, depression, and nervousness (Weiten et al., 2018). Student alcohol consumption, therefore, is mainly associated with their desire to rest and forget about their issues and challenges (Weiten et al., 2018). College life is not only classes and homework but an entirely new environment for students. It takes time to assimilate into university dynamics, and certain challenges accompany this acclimatization.
The majority of adolescents start smoking because of their desire to look more mature and cooler. A similar tendency exists in alcohol consumption – alcoholic beverage companies spend millions of dollars building an image that portrays alcohol as a way to look cool (Weiten et al., 2018). In turn, college students are convinced that by drinking alcohol, they improve their representation. It is interesting to see that college students spend more money on alcohol than they do on books (Weiten et al., 2018). To decrease the impact of marketing strategies on students, affected groups need to become more aware of the health implications behind frequent alcohol consumption.
Scientific evidence suggests that issues with self-esteem and other self-discrepancies are significant determinants of alcohol use among college students. For instance, the majority of high-school graduates come to college with the hope of achieving academic excellence or social recognition. When reality starts to discord with their expectations, students start looking for solutions to dull their adverse feelings (Weiten et al., 2018). One way students cope with discrepancies is through regular consumption of alcoholic beverages (Weiten et al., 2018). Such a student reaction to their internal psychological problems was evidenced informal research (Weiten et al., 2018).
Students that were told they received low test scores consumed more alcohol when students were asked to taste wine. External factors can also influence students into frequent alcohol use. Besides classes, college life is known for parties and other entertainment events. Peer groups may encourage individual students to drink, and most young people do not resist such encouragement.
Frequent and excessive use of alcohol is a common problem among college students. Driven by their wish to become a part of a certain peer group or their desire to look more attractive, many students acquire the habit of regular alcohol consumption. In some cases, psychological issues may be the reason behind alcohol use. Student awareness of adverse health outcomes needs to be increased to decrease the level of drinking.
Reference
Weiten, W., Dunn, D. S., & Hammer, E. Y. (2018). Psychology applied to modern life: Adjustment in the 21st century. Cengage Learning.