Teen drinking is more dangerous than previously thought it to be. Several studies made this year said that teen drinking can cause more neurological damage than known to be years before. Teens who binge drink may do damage to their memory and learning abilities by severely restricting the development of the hippocampus.

Every 22 minutes someone dies in an alcohol-related motor vehicle accident. 70 percent of all teenagers drink alcohol, and 60 percent of all teen deaths in car accidents are related to the use of alcohol. Those are just a few of the many scary statistics on teen drinking.

Many teens like to go out and “have fun” and drink with their friends, but what they don’t know are some of the consequences that they could end up with. There are also many teens who don’t like and don’t believe in under age drinking. “I don’t like it.,” Says Tiffani Koscinski, “It makes people do stupid things.”

Peer pressure is a big thing, but some teens are strong and fight against it. Some teens don’t let their friends decision to drink affect their own decision to drink. When asked if they let their friends decision to drink affect theirs and why or why not, Leah Lemelin simply said “No, because it’s my decision.”

Some teens love to go out every weekend and “party” with their friends, but some teens drink because their parents let them. “To a certain point it’s okay,” says Koscinski. “If the parents let their kids drink and the kids know the boundaries it’s okay.” Others may disagree though.

Teen drinking is never really okay, but if you choose to then just be aware of the damage you are causing your body and the consequences that could come out in the end if you make a wrong move.