Teens receive hundreds of mixed messages about things, especially about alcohol. There is a fine line between the celebration and presence of alcohol to earmark a special occasion and the danger of reliance on alcohol to experience life, whether it's up or down. The messages can be confusing and important self-preserving opinions can remain ambivalent. This book addresses the mixed message and controversies of alcohol and alcoholism. Readers will evaluate the dangers of binge drinking, and the appropriate legal drinking age. Also discussed are the existence of a genetic predisposition or a natural tolerance among alcoholics, and the effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous in treating alcoholism. Essays and personal accounts provide an array of viewpoints, which allows readers to think critically about what they are learning, and how what they think fits into each debate. Stellar essay sources include the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General, National Institutes of Health, and the Saint Jude Retreat House.
