Risks that change with age
Alcohol and people under 20
The reality of underage drinking
Alcohol is said to be “the best of all medicines” for adults, and moderate amounts of alcohol can be beneficial, but for people under 20, there is no benefit to be gained from it.
As their bodies and minds are still developing, and their alcohol-metabolizing abilities are still immature compared to adults, drinking alcohol has nothing but adverse effects on the minds and bodies of teenagers in the midst of their growth, such as harming brain cells and inhibiting the functions of the organs that produce sex hormones.
Reasons why underage drinking is prohibited
Drinking alcohol under the age of 20 is prohibited by law.
This is because it can damage the minds and bodies of those still developing.
The human brain undergoes significant changes during adolescence, forming important abilities such as intelligence, rationality, memory and imagination. It has been proven that drinking alcohol during this important period can lead to a loss of the ability to act rationally, and a significant decrease in concentration and the desire to learn.
Furthermore, it hurts the development of sexual function, as it reduces the amount of sex hormones.
It is important not only for the teens but also for the adults around them to create an environment where alcohol is not accessible.
Distortions in personality formation
During adolescence, the human brain develops important abilities such as intelligence, rationality, and creativity.
In addition, during adolescence, people tend to make decisions and judgments based on their emotions.
If a person continues to drink alcohol during this period when the brain is still developing and emotions change rapidly, it can destroy nerve cells. As a result, the person under the age of 20 becomes unable to behave rationally, which has a significant impact on personality development.
Prone to alcoholism?
It has been proven that the earlier you start drinking, the higher the risk of becoming a heavy drinker or developing alcohol dependency. The graph shows the age at which people start drinking and the lifetime prevalence of alcohol dependence. The earlier you start drinking, the higher the lifetime prevalence of alcohol dependence.
Memory decline
Alcohol has a negative effect on learning. The graph below compares the impact of alcohol on short-term memory, and shows that the younger the person, the more extreme the memory decline.
In addition, if a person drinks a lot of alcohol from adolescence onwards, the hippocampus, which stores memories, will shrink, leading to irreversible memory decline.
Effects on sexual function development!
Children's bodies develop rapidly during puberty, and their sexual functions keep developing; if they drink alcohol during this period, the amount of sex hormones will decrease. There is a risk of adverse effects such as erectile dysfunction in boys and irregular menstruation in girls.
It's absolutely forbidden by law!
Under Japanese law, it is not only forbidden for people under 20 to drink alcohol, but also for their parents and the shops that sell alcohol to sell alcohol to people under 20.
- People under 20
- Under the “Minor Drinking Prohibition Act,” it is prohibited for people under 20 to drink alcohol.
- Parents
- The law states that “parents are liable and are responsible for preventing minors from drinking alcohol.”
- Shops that sell alcohol
- If a shop that sells alcohol sells or gives alcohol to someone under 20, knowing that they are under 20, they will be punished.
Furthermore, under the provisions of the Liquor Tax Law, their license to sell alcohol may be revoked.
The characteristic of the “Minor Drinking Prohibition Act” is that a person under 20 who has drunk alcohol is not punished, but the responsibility is placed on the adults around them.
From April 2022, the age of adulthood in the Civil Code was lowered to 18, but the age limit for alcohol will remain at 20.
Drinking laws that differ from country to country
Looking at other countries, the laws regarding drinking alcohol vary depending on the climate, culture, religion, etc., but drinking alcohol by young people is prohibited in many countries. On the other hand, there are also countries where drinking alcohol by adults is prohibited due to religious reasons.
| Country | Legal Drinking Age | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Beer | Wine | Distilled Liquor | |
| Germany, France | 16 years old | 16 years old | 18 years old |
| United Kingdom | 16 years old if drinking beer or cider (apple wine) during a meal, 18 years old otherwise | ||
| Australia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Brazil, Singapore, New Zealand, Portugal, Italy, Spain | 18 years old | ||
| Norway | 18 years old | 18 years old | 20 years old |
| 19 years old (18 years old in some states) | 19 years old (18 years old in some states) | ||
| Japan | 20 years old | ||
| America | 21 years old | ||
| Egypt | 18 years old | 21 years old | 21 years old |
| Saudi Arabia, Iran | In accordance with religious precepts, the consumption of alcohol is prohibited. | ||
Adults should protect those under 20 years old
Let's raise awareness of the dangers of drinking alcohol before the age of 20 throughout society.
When people under 20 years old drink alcohol, it not only has a negative impact on their brains and bodies, but can also lead to problems such as school adjustment disorders and poor academic performances.
In order to have healthy lives and build rich human relationships, society as a whole must stop underage drinking.
Stopping underage drinking is the responsibility of adults
One survey found that the most common reason for underage drinking was “because their family encouraged them to.”
Young people need to be aware of the issue, but it is important for adults to learn about underage drinking and be ready to explain why it is wrong so that people under 20 years old will understand.
Life skills (how to politely refuse alcohol)
If your friends, family, or adults invite you to drink alcohol, you should refuse.
- When your friends invite you to drink
- If a friend asks you to drink alcohol, clearly state your intention, such as “I don't drink alcohol because it's bad for your health.
- If a family member asks you to drink alcohol
- If a family member asks you to drink alcohol at New Year's, etc., tell them that you will accept their invitation when you become an adult (or 20 years old) in a matter-of-fact way.
- If an adult asks you to drink alcohol
- If an adult offers you alcohol on the street, etc., you can use the law as an excuse to refuse, saying something like “It's against the law to offer alcohol to someone under 20!”
In any case, if someone is persistent even after you have refused, one option is to leave.
Alcohol and people in their 20s
If you drink alcohol appropriately, with the correct knowledge of things like the mechanisms of intoxication and alcohol metabolism, it can bring you enjoyable times and wonderful experiences. However, if you are involved in abusive drinking based on incorrect knowledge, it can become a dangerous habit, so let's learn how to drink alcohol correctly and enjoyably.
The “appropriate” amount of alcohol is not just about quantity
The degree of intoxication varies depending on the blood alcohol concentration. Therefore, regardless of the type of alcohol, it is proportional to the concentration of pure alcohol consumed. It is said that it usually takes about 30 minutes to 2 hours for the alcohol concentration to reach its highest level in a body. Therefore, even if you drink a lot of alcohol, neither you nor the people around you have any idea how much you have drunk until later.
Also, if you drink alcohol without eating anything, it will be absorbed quickly, and you will get drunk quickly, and it may also damage the stomach lining.
On the other hand, if you drink while eating, the alcohol will be absorbed slowly, and the increase in blood alcohol concentration will be suppressed, so the period of being tipsy will last longer. It will also be good for your body and make you feel relaxed. As you can see, it is not just about the amount of alcohol you drink but also about how you drink it.
If you drink a large amount of alcohol in one go to liven up the atmosphere, you may end up with acute alcohol poisoning, which can cause dangerous symptoms such as breathing difficulties.
Many people are taken to the hospital with acute alcohol poisoning, and in Tokyo alone, over 17,000 people are taken to the hospital by ambulance each year, with around half of these being young people in their 20s and under.
'Iki-nomi', or chugging alcohol in one go, can be a deadly act.
Don't force others to drink, respect everyone's pace, and drink properly.
What is Slow Drinking?
“Slow Drinking” is a way for people take a relaxed approach to consuming alcohol. This means being smart and keeping the situation pleasant by drinking in moderation while enjoying good food and conversation with others. It is a way for us to enjoy alcohol in the times ahead—not by focusing on the amount consumed, but by savoring the good times had.
Rather than spending time drinking alone, drink and share good times with someone else. Taking the time to have a conversation with someone naturally results in slow drinking, and it might just give birth to some new ideas or chance encounters as well.
Take the time to enjoy our beverages while taking in a good meal. This activity takes less of a toll on the body than drinking on an empty stomach. Pay mind to the pairing of food and drink and the marriage of flavors to create a rich experience.
The key to enjoying drinking in pleasant situations while keeping a positive mood is drinking in moderation. By doing so, you can ease your mind, have good conversations, and enjoy a relaxing meal. And of course, we should respect the pace of those around us.
Make sure to savor the flavor of both your drink and your food. Rediscover the value of flavors and aromas that you may not have noticed before, and the story that surrounds the experience. Communicate and discuss with those around you. This will turn your time with alcohol into time that is truly rich.
Problems that older people are prone to
Generally speaking, as people get older, their ability to metabolize alcohol decreases, and their blood alcohol concentration tends to rise more easily, making them more susceptible to intoxication. However, some people are unaware that their metabolism has declined, and by continuing to drink the same amount of alcohol as when they were younger, they are more likely to suffer damage to their organs.
In order to enjoy alcohol later in life, it is important to know your current situation. Try to drink in moderation, and have regular health checks to monitor your condition, so that you can enjoy alcohol with peace of mind.
In recent years, the number of elderly people suffering from alcohol dependency has also been increasing. The loss of a sense of purpose in life, or the grief of losing a spouse, can trigger feelings of loneliness and isolation. In particular, men seem to feel more isolated after retirement.
Alcoholism in the elderly can lead to physical complications such as liver damage and peripheral neuropathy. In order to avoid becoming addicted, it is important to know how to drink alcohol properly from a young age, but it is also important to maintain social connections by exercising and enjoying hobbies.