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Essay / The Problem of Underage Drinking in College
In the three years I have attended Wilfrid Laurier University, I have noticed that there is enormous pressure when is about drinking, and that these pressures can lead to negative effects. results. That being said, there are many different pressures within post-secondary education, including: the pressure to receive good grades, the pressure to make a good impression on your professors, and the pressure to make new friends in a new environment. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on 'Why violent video games should not be banned'? Get an original essay There are many pressures related to drinking on campus, including events such as 'Frosh Week'. College is known for partying and drinking, so one of the common forms of socializing is going out and drinking. Purchasing alcohol and attending typical college events involving drinking is a fairly inexpensive form of socializing. Students feel that in order to fit into Laurier's mentality, they must indulge in drinking, which becomes a social event for the students. Wilfrid Laurier is surrounded by clubs and bars such as Pub on King, Stark and Perri, Phils and Chainsaw. Many students feel that in order to maintain a social life and participate in the college experience, they must consume alcohol and separate themselves. Bars create different marketing strategies to attract students by promoting drink specials or “girls nights.” Students and alcohol use can have negative consequences, such as injuries, traffic accidents, assault, or alcohol dependence. As many people know, Laurier is known for its Ezra parties on St. Patrick's Day. Many college students tend to drink an insane amount of alcohol that day, making them extremely drunk. From my personal experience with Ezra, I have noticed that a lot of students end up going to the hospital and suffering from alcohol poisoning, or just walking down the street you can see students vomiting from the amount they drink. Students don’t realize the type of impact. that alcohol consumption can have on their lives. Drinking has killed students, led to sexual assaults, students have been physically injured, and property can be damaged when students drink. In the article written by Misch, they explain how in order for there to be a change in alcohol consumption within universities, the current culture of alcohol abuse must first be changed. If campuses changed the drinking culture, alcohol consumption could decrease within universities. Minors drink alcohol in the Wilfs school canteen at Laurier University. Students know that 90% of the time they will not be asked to show identification when purchasing an alcoholic beverage. This happened to me personally when I went to buy a drink on my 19th birthday and was not asked to show ID. If universities regulated their employees and required them to identify themselves as they are supposed to, underage drinking on campus would not occur as often. One point Misch made in his text was to raise awareness among students and advocate against what society expects of them that could help change the culture of drinking. If students are told that it is okay to be different and there is no need to engage in this.