The Dangers of Alcohol Consumption in Children and Adolescents

By Amy Deitche, BSN, RN

As one of the most commonly abused legal substances in the U.S., alcohol can have significant consequences for anyone who consumes it—but particularly for children and adolescents.  The 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 4.6 million young people aged 12 to 17 said they had consumed alcohol in the previous year.  Among small children, accidental alcohol ingestion is not unusual.

Alcohol ingestion in children and adolescents—how bad can it be?

While older children may be curious about alcohol, young children may ingest alcoholic products through age-appropriate exploratory ingestions. Low blood sugar is a major worry with alcohol consumption among small children as alcohol inhibits the creation of new sugars in the body. Children are particularly vulnerable to the dangerously low blood sugar generated by alcohol since they have a smaller amount of glycogen to begin with.

Adolescents consume alcohol more than any other psychoactive substance. The effects of teenage alcohol misuse and abuse can have negative legal, social, and medical repercussions including changes in brain development, mental and psychosocial issues, problems in school, physical illness, disruption of normal growth, and memory problems.  It can also lead to excessive drinking or long-term abuse or misuse.

Risk factors for alcohol use disorder in adolescents include early-age alcohol consumption - especially binge drinking; having a parent or other close relative who abuses alcohol; and having a mental health disorder.

Symptoms of alcohol intoxication

Because alcohol is quickly absorbed by children’s bodies, intoxication can occur in less than 30 minutes. Alcohol impacts the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). Common symptoms with alcohol ingestion can include:

  • Drowsiness

  • Agitation

  • Loss of inhibition

  • Slurred speech

  • Giddiness

  • Loss of balance

  • Visual disturbances

  • Confusion

  • Vomiting

Young children and individuals who have never consumed alcohol are at higher risk of experiencing potentially serious consequences such as seizures, coma, respiratory failure, or even death if large amounts are ingested.

 Types of Alcohol in the Home

Low-concentration alcoholic beverages like wine coolers, spritzers, and sparkling wines can taste sweet, and kids often consume more of these than if they were drinking high proof spirits alone. Alcohol is also found in various common household items and foods, such as personal care items, cough syrups, household cleaners and detergents, hand sanitizers, and colognes and perfumes. Mouthwash in particular can be artificially sweetened with sorbitol, aspartame or saccharine, which can make it more appealing to a child to drink more.

Here are the percentages of alcohol in alcoholic beverages and typical household items:

  • Aftershave: 60-75%

  • Hand sanitizer: 60%

  • Hard liquor: 40%

  • Food extract: 35%

  • Mouthwash: 26%

  • Wine: 12%

  • Beer: 5%

Is there treatment for alcohol ingestion in children?

Alcohol consumption in children usually requires immediate medical attention.  Treatment for alcohol intoxication often consists of supportive care while the body rids itself of the alcohol. 

Call the National Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 if you believe that a child or adolescent has ingested alcohol. A specially trained pharmacist, nurse, physician’s assistant or physician will gather information from you and provide recommendations.  Have the following information ready when you call:

  • The name of the product

  • Quantity missing

  • Time of ingestion

  • Child’s age and weight

Call 911 right away if any of the following conditions exist:

  • Trouble breathing

  • Coughing/choking

  • Difficulty waking up

  • Seizures

Prevention

It's crucial to keep young children and adolescents from consuming alcohol. Here are some suggestions:

  • Identify household items that contain alcohol.

  • Don’t drink in front of children.

  • Don’t leave alcoholic beverages unattended.

  • Keep alcohol and products containing alcohol out of reach and in secure cabinets

  • Keep all items in their original, clearly labeled packaging.

Take home message:

  • Alcohol is a drug.

  • Alcohol consumption is hazardous for children and adolescents.

  • Be familiar with all products in the home that contain alcohol.

Prevention is key and ingestions of alcohol in youth are preventable.

Article Details
Management of Toxicological Emergencies in the School Setting: An Overview for School Nurses Part 2
Amy L. Deitche, BSN, RN, CSPI and Anthony M. Burda, BS Pharm, CSPI, DABAT
First published online May 27, 2022
DOI: 10.1177/1942602X221100213
NASN School Nurse

About the Author

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Amy Deitche

Amy Deitche, BSN, RN, works as a toxicology nurse for the Illinois Poison Center at Illinois Health and Hospital Association located in Chicago, IL. She has 26 years of nursing experience in critical care, trauma, and pediatrics, the last 16 of which she spent as a certified poison specialist. Amy enjoys providing awareness of the unique service that the Illinois Poison Center provides to the state of Illinois. She is a mother of five daughters which she considers to be the most difficult and most rewarding job she has ever had.

ResearchMaria Pia TissotAlcohol, alcohol consumption, children