So I can't help but comment on this week's CDC report. This weekly Morbidity and Mortality Report discusses the common types of alcohol consumed by American high school students. Apparently, the inspiration was to better understand what beverages may need further restriction to reduce underage drinking, which results in 4,500 deaths a year.
For those readers in or close to college or high school, you'll know the popular drink is hard liquor. The report gets that right:
Now that you read the explanation, read the CNN interpretation.
Notice that the only reasons they draw from the report are " Beer cheaper, easy for adults to get; teens may filch liquor from home". Shoot, they hardly even mention the fact that teens want to just get drunk (Technically there is one sentence in there that hints at it, but they gloss over it.). Talk about bad reporting. Makes you wonder why CNN decided to exclude that aspect of the study. Suppose they decided to go for the "make parents feel guilty and lock the liquor cabinet" angle. Shoot, they didn't even provide a link to the original report from the CDC which I'll happily do - must have not wanted anyone to check their facts....
Ok, I never promised I would only talk shop. I did go to a liberal arts college.
For those readers in or close to college or high school, you'll know the popular drink is hard liquor. The report gets that right:
Several factors might play a role in students choosing liquor more than other types of alcoholic beverages. First, high school students have a high prevalence of binge drinking, which can lead to acute intoxication (5); liquor might facilitate this outcome because of the higher ethanol concentration. Second, liquor can be combined with other beverages such as soft drinks, possibly making concealment easier and providing a flavor that is more acceptable to younger drinkers.Those drinking young want to get drunk. Why drink a 6 pack of beer when three shots could do the same (ok, these numbers might differ for you).
Now that you read the explanation, read the CNN interpretation.
Notice that the only reasons they draw from the report are " Beer cheaper, easy for adults to get; teens may filch liquor from home". Shoot, they hardly even mention the fact that teens want to just get drunk (Technically there is one sentence in there that hints at it, but they gloss over it.). Talk about bad reporting. Makes you wonder why CNN decided to exclude that aspect of the study. Suppose they decided to go for the "make parents feel guilty and lock the liquor cabinet" angle. Shoot, they didn't even provide a link to the original report from the CDC which I'll happily do - must have not wanted anyone to check their facts....
Ok, I never promised I would only talk shop. I did go to a liberal arts college.
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