Topic > An Overview of Underage Drinking Problems

The SARA scan, analyze, respond, and evaluate model is an important problem-solving tool in analysis and examination of problems or issues (Marquis, 2009). The scan phase of the SARA model is about identifying key events and conditions associated with alcohol consumption, collecting relevant data, researching current ways to mitigate the problem and evaluating their effectiveness, as well as understanding why which the problem is occurring. Underage drinking in colleges and universities is a serious social problem and needs a rapid response to end. Research indicates that young people between the ages of 12 and 17 have excessive alcohol consumption habits in tertiary and higher education institutions (MEADA, 2015). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The main cause of this excessive alcohol consumption is the social, physical and psychological changes that adolescents and young adults experience. This leads them to engage in experimental behaviors to experience different feelings. This is usually a time of great change in an individual and makes young people eager to make the transition and begin to experience independent living (Marquis, 2009). This feeling drives them to engage in experimental behaviors, usually due to peer pressure, stress, the desire to experiment, the desire to belong, and the need for adventure. In addition to this, adolescents are also affected by the need for independence, praise and the need to impress peers, which pushes them to drink more than necessary. Studies indicate that underage drinking affects cognitive development and continues the habit into one's mid-twenties. The main part of the brain that is affected by drinking is the part of memory involved in learning, the hippocampus. Research indicates that the hippocampus is usually smaller in adolescents who drink compared to those who do not drink (MEADA, 2015). This, therefore, affects the reasoning, learning skills and other cognitive abilities of adolescents. According to the Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA), the recommended legal age at which people can engage in alcohol-related activities is 21 (MEADA, 2015). This age was reached after consideration of the cognitive and social development of individuals in adolescence. Research indicates that 10.4 million young people between the ages of 12 and 20 drank more than a few sips in 2009. The same study indicated that by age 15, more than half of adolescents across the country drank engages in activities related to alcohol consumption. This tendency increases with age and around the age of 18 more than 70% of young people are usually accustomed to the habit of drinking (MEADA, 2015). While young people may not have the money to indulge in consistent drinking, they often drink excessively whenever they get money. This poses a great risk to their lives, the lives of others and property in general. Research also indicates that at least 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die each year from alcohol-related causes. The leading causes of alcohol-related deaths include traffic accidents, suicides, homicides, injuries due to falls, alcohol poisoning, drowning, and burns (MEADA, 2015). From yet another research, approximately 190,000 young people visited hospitals with alcohol-related emergency injuries. Drinking is also associated with impaired judgment that pushes young people to adopt dangerous and illegal habits (MEADA, 2015). Alcohol.