Just when you think you have heard it all…I only learned this week about a new product that has apparently been available for a few months. It is a fruity concoction geared toward a younger crowd and it is made by Pabst Brewing Company, located right here in my hometown of Milwaukee.
It’s called “Blast” and contains 12 percent alcohol. Not enough to get you drunk (well at least not by drinking just one) but enough to give some “kick.”
Pabst describes it as a “premium malt beverage with natural fruit flavors” such as grape, raspberry watermelon, strawberry lemonade and blueberry pomegranate. But some are calling this nothing more than an alcoholic soda. Not surprisingly, Rapper Snoop Dogg is a promoter of it.
All this does is encourage drinking and some experts say that it encourages binge drinking. If you don’t already know, binge drinking is defined as men drinking 5 or more drinks in a row and women drinking 4 or more drinks in a row. To be considered a heavy binge drinker this would be something done 3 or more times within a 2 week period of time.
There are many risky behaviors associated with teenagers binge drinking such as an increased risk of driving drunk or riding with a driver who has been drinking; more likely to take up smoking; increased chance of getting involved in a physical fight; females are more likely to be raped; greater suicide attempts and greater sexual activity.
It is also increases the chance that as teens go into their adult years, they will deal with alcohol addiction. I don’t even need to tell you the risks involved in this.
So why are we making it more appealing for younger people to drink? There are just some things in this world that while they shouldn’t surprise me, continue to do so. This is yet another opportunity to talk to your teen about the dangers of binge drinking and yes, of consuming a drink that contains any amount of alcohol.
Related Articles:
Talk to Your Teen about Drinking
The Problem with Teens and Smoking
Photo by Jeramey Jannene in Wikimedia Commons