The main conclusions drawn from the study were that as of 2011, binge drinking was most common in girls of ages 18-24 and 25-34, in larger-than-normal doses. On average, a woman that fell into these categories reported to drink six drinks per incident, on 3 incidents per month. Additionally, binge drinking was reported to be most prevalent among women from households earning a minimum of $75,000 per year. These numbers seem very large, and somewhat came as a surprise. However, after taking in and analyzing the information, the numbers definitely seemed believable.
This data came from two different sources: the BRFSS and the YRBS. BRFSS is a random telephone survey given to adults of 18 years or older in order to collect information on health risk behaviors. Similarly, the YRBS is a part of the CDCs Risk Behavior Surveillance System for high school students. While both of these tests are reliable when given to thousands of people (in order to decrease error), there are unreliable aspects of any survey. For one, there can be a "social desirability bias," in which the participants of the survey do not disclose all truthful information in order that they do not "look bad." This factor would mainly be an issue with the YRBS, since high school students know that the administers of the test are aware that they are underage.
Binge drinking is most clearly an important public health issue. Especially in women, binge drinking can have numerous harmful effects on a women's reproductive capabilities. As listed in the article, binge drinking can cause the fetus to have many diseases, and can sometimes result in fetus death. It can also cause unwanted pregnancies. Additionally, binge drinking can cause severe liver damage. By limiting or removing binge drinking, many potentially harmful factors can be removed from a women's life.
One way to begin limiting binge drinking among college or high school age women is to increase the prices of alcohol. Especially while in high school or college, most teenagers don't have much extra money to spend. Clearly, increasing alcohol prices would lower alcohol consumptions. Additionally, by reducing the alcohol content (proof) of each bottle, binge drinking would become harder. Specifically, a combination of increased alcohol prices and decreased alcohol content per bottle would make binge drinking among college or high school age women significantly more difficult.
I totally agree with you on how to minimize and avoid binge drinking. Putting together high prices and low alcohol content will definitely minimize it. College students, most of them, are always worry where they are going to spend the money on. However, when it comes to drinking and having fun, most of them won't mind spending money. So another idea to minimize binge drinking is by advertisement and educational programs showing them cause and effect. For example, if you drink too much this is what would happen to you and the consequences (showing off the risk factors). In some high schools, they lack educational programs such as alcohol abuse. They should make it mandatory for all those students. It is a way to be make them aware. I love the ideas that you presented, it made me think more on what also can be done.
ReplyDeleteI definitely liked how you reinforce the health risk that those young girls and women are in. This is a plus!
It was nice reading your blog!
Its great to see that you are succinct in your writing.
ReplyDeleteYou do raise relevant arguments to the questions and the one I find particularly interesting is the one about reducing the alcohol content in the beverages. This may work but I am wondering if they just won't drink more to get the same effect.
I am wondering whether the last two lines of the first paragraph are part of the answer to Qn3 which you addressed in the second paragraph. The reason I ask is because I did not see the answer to the first question for Qn3.