As a freshman in my second semester of college, I'm no stranger to nightlife. The college scene is one full of parties, clubs and most commonly alcohol. As a kid, I would watch my mom come home from work and enjoy a glass of wine with dinner. I figured that's what alcohol is: just another beverage to drink in moderation for taste and pleasure; that is until I got more exposed to the media and party culture.

Basically, every young adult show or movie has glorified alcohol in some way. Shows like Glee and Pretty Little Liars have both featured the main characters over-indulging in drinks, as well as a series as universally loved as Harry Potter has displayed the young wizards enjoying their fair share of butterbeer. Popular Top 40 songs like All My Friends by Snakehips, Don't Wanna Know by Maroon 5 and various others mention alcohol in some way.

From media exposure to peer pressure in everyday life, it's hard to avoid drinking too much. The Harvard School of Public Health characterizes binge drinking as four drinks for females during a single occasion and five drinks for males. According to a national survey conducted by the CDC, almost 90 percent of all alcohol consumed by drinkers under 21 in America is consumed through binge drinking.

This unhealthy pattern of drinking can lead to many health-related and social issues. Binge drinking can cause violent and aggressive behavior and also result in unwanted sexual encounters. Long-term health side effects are endless, including high blood pressure, liver disease, and even brain damage. A common short-term effect is alcohol poisoning, which can be deadly. According to the CDC, the United States has 2,200 deaths from alcohol poisoning each year, averaging at 6 deaths per day.

As society keeps glorifying alcohol, more and more young adults will adopt this dangerous habit. As this trend continues, the fine line between harmless fun and danger will become even finer.