When you turn 21 and can legally buy alcohol on your own, it is such a relief. You want a glass of wine after a long day? Go for it. Want to get a drink at the rodeo? The choice is yours. This freedom is really great to have once you've waited 21 years and can now drink whenever you want. However with this freedom comes a new amount of responsibility, a lot of responsibility, and many risks as well. With this new outlet and legal way to have fun, challenges may arise, and you could find your drinking becoming an issue within a blink of an eye.

We have all (hopefully) learned from a young age that alcohol consumption can have many damaging effects. First and most importantly with our physical body. Yes, there are studies showing a glass of red wine might be good for the heart, but that's besides the point. Drinking a lot and drinking often can be bad for your health, for many of us this is common knowledge.

Even though we know that it may not be great for our bodies, many of us continuously make the decision to drink excessively. Obviously we all may have our reasons to turn to alcohol, but we fail to remember what it is doing to our bodies. Alcohol, being a depressant, might help you forget about something momentarily, but in the long run, it won't help you get through hardships. Beyond the physical consequences that come along with alcohol, there are many social and psychological effects as well.

Some of us may drink because it helps us open up and talk to people more readily. Sure, this can be a good thing, helping you to come out of your shell and enjoy the company of others. Eventually though, most of us will have too much to drink and will end up saying or doing something ridiculously stupid. This could obviously produce waves in your friendships and relationships, which is usually never a good thing. Getting emotional, overthinking, and being violent is not fun for anyone. It can ruin the night for yourself, and for others, and the goal was ultimately just to have fun.

What I'm trying to get at is that even though you may be 21 and leagally able to drink, the consequences that may arise should not be ignored. You may eventually find yourself "needing" a drink to have fun or get through dealing with certain people. This can eventually spiral out of control and lead to alcohol dependency. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you should never drink or that drinking is a horrible thing, but many times we forget or ignore the possible issues that may also come with it. Then when something does eventually happen, you will hopefully be given a news flash and realize what alcohol can do to your life.

If you find yourself getting to this point, take a step back and evaluate why you are drinking in the first place. Look at what it has done for your life, has it made it better or ultimately just caused more issues? I know sometimes life may bring you situations where you think you need alcohol, I'm telling you, you don't. The growth and strength that you will build from dealing with hardships on your own will be so much more than what the alcohol could have done. If you drink just to have fun, try learning how to have fun without drinking. Life is to short to be hazy for all of your good/fun times, and the alcohol will never be worth your health or the relationships it may destroy.

Once you are 21, don't let the fact that you can drink change your life. Be responsible with your drinking and try to recognize if your drinking may be rising to an unhealthy level. An occasional drink will most likely never hurt, but be cautious to not let this new freedom begin to take a toll on your life.