St.

Louis College Valenzuela

Faculty of Arts, Languages, Literature and Research
Senior High School Department

The Impacts of Alcohol Consumption to the Academic Performance of SHS Students: A

Case Study

CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

The impacts of alcohol consumption about the academic performance and

development of senior high school students are discussed in this chapter. The

characteristics of senior high school students and the problem brought by alcohol

consumption toward the students are also included in this part.

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION

Alcohol is perceived differently by distinct individual. Alcohol consumption is also

the most common habit that the students are slowly exposed in to. Information about

alcohol consumption are stated in these studies and literatures.

There are different reasons why people drink alcohol. According to Leadem

(2017) Some people tend to relax with the presence of alcohol, drinking alcohol can

make few people relaxed. Drinking alcohol moderately is good for de-stressing, as this

is viewed by other people as a depressant, but drinking alcohol immoderately will

remove the stress-relieving effect of the alcohol.

 St. Louis College Valenzuela
Faculty of Arts, Languages, Literature and Research
Senior High School Department

There is an effect of alcohol that causes a person to improve his or her creativity, this

has been proven by an experiment of certain research. A group of sober men was

asked to solve a problem, it has been seen there that they didn’t only get the correct

answers, they have solved the problems quicker.

The insights of Leadem about alcohol consumption discussed about the de-

stressing effect of alcohol. By drinking a small amount of alcohol can enhance your

memory. Drinking only one to two glasses of alcohol had been proven beneficial.

Alcohol is frequently associated with deficient memory, a related study explained that:

New information that is gathered by learning will e blocked because of alcohol but the

information that has been recently learned will turn into long-term memory (Leadem,

2017).

Leadem’s perception about the benefits of alcohol consumption helped this

research to explore and examine the different effects of alcohol. The Recovery Village

(n.d) explains that alcohol consumption affects three major categories of emotions and

moods. Some people drink alcohol to cover up hurtful or painful feelings, those might be

sadness, grief, jealousy, shame, fear, loneliness, embarrassment, etc. Some people

also include a celebration of a particular event or happening with alcoholic drinks, these

are the kind of drinking where they drink to heighten their feelings of delight, or simply

they drink because of happiness. Lastly, few people drink alcohol because they seek

relaxation and calmness, in short, these people drink alcohol to reduce stress (The

Recovery Village [TRV], n.d).

 St. Louis College Valenzuela
Faculty of Arts, Languages, Literature and Research
Senior High School Department

The statement of TRV enlightened this research about the relationship of alcohol

consumption and human emotions. Across Western culture, binge drinking is generally

accounted socially acceptable for students. Drinking alcohol improves the socializing

skills of a person, students that drink alcohol can widen their lines of connection with

other people. Alcohol consumption from the population of students is continuously

increasing, most of the students are influenced by the environment they are living in

(Houle and Quigg, 2019).

Houle and Quigg’s insights had been useful in this study. Consuming alcohol

does not critically affect student’s decision for either staying in school or attending

college yet they are still able to learn and to be regularly present at school. A study

about alcohol-related research is timely and fundamental, recent research about this

field states that there is a radical increase of underage drinkers. Drinking alcohol

includes hangovers, alcohol poisoning, blackouts, and are at higher risk of

neurodegeneration (regions of the brain that is responsible for the storage of memories

and ability of learning) (Zeigler et al., 2004).

The understanding of Zeigler et al. discussed the different effects of alcohol

consumption to students fundamental thinking and physical side effects.

 St. Louis College Valenzuela
Faculty of Arts, Languages, Literature and Research
Senior High School Department

PROBLEM

The problem within alcohol consumption of students and effects of alcohol

consumption are stated in these literatures and studies.

Galbicsek (2019) argues that drinking too much alcohol has a large disadvantage

on students’ academic development. Based on other research about alcohol

consumption, few students admitted that they fail classes due to excessive use of

alcohol. It causes a wide range of effects on their academic performances. It hinders

their responsibilities towards school attendance, home works, and activities. Their

alcohol dependency might replace their real priorities that might cause a lot of time and

money wasted to complete their college degrees.

There are side effects of drinking an alcohol, some side effects will last for months or

even years. Habitual heavy drinking will increase a drinker’s chance of developing a

severe medical diagnosis called, AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder). A person with alcohol

use disorder will undergo a critical physical and emotional damage. Drinking regularly

can lead a person to alcohol abuse, once this is experienced, it is better to seek help

from the specialist at alcohol treatment center (Galbicsek, 2019).

The insights of Galbicsek built a strong foundation with this research, it discussed

about alcohol consumption’s effects. Smith (2017) states that the problem with

substance abuse and alcohol dependency can be treated, family and friends are often

needed for the process of treatment to be done easily. Within the process, a person with

alcohol addiction or dependence may experience a feeling of shame,

 St. Louis College Valenzuela
Faculty of Arts, Languages, Literature and Research
Senior High School Department

self-disappointment, fear and anxiety, and other negative emotions. Drinking alcohol

can affect your way of socializing with other people, including your family members and

friends.

The statement of Smith discussed the other details about the problems with

alcohol. Teenage drinking has been common in our society, and the number of

underage high school students that drink alcohol is enormously increasing. Drinking

alcohol affects the brain and the physical development of adolescents. Underage

drinker’s quality of learning abilities and academic performance will be affected,

especially when drinking has already become a habit or a daily basis. Drinking alcohol

is known to reduce a person’s consciousness, making them vulnerable for physical and

sexual assault. People that are suspected by doing sexual or violent actions are

commonly under the influence of alcohol. Sexual assault is strongly related to alcohol

use. When a person is drunk, their self-confidence will increase and shame will not be

present at the moment. A person in this kind of state have a high probability on doing

what he/she is thinking. Early and unwanted pregnancy is the most common result

about this topic. (Galbicsek, 2019; Brown, Tapert, Granholm, & Delis, 2000; Tapert &

Brown, 1999).

Galbicsek and Brown et al.’s understanding scrutinized the disadvantage and

detriment effects of alcohol consumption. Luis and Freitas (2014) explains that the

environment and surroundings can trigger adolescents to consume alcohol. Influence

from friends or even families is the main reason why underage students consume
 St. Louis College Valenzuela
Faculty of Arts, Languages, Literature and Research
Senior High School Department

alcohol. Even there is a wide study and research about this issue, people still lack

knowledge of how alcoholism or alcohol consumption reflects an adolescent’s

awareness about the instigation and tenacity of this habit. The majority of the effects of

alcohol drinking are negative, especially it contains addictive substances that can make

a drinker an alcoholic.

The explanation of Luis and Freitas tackled about the relationship of adolescents

and alcohol.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Senior high school student’s characteristics are stated in these studies and

literatures. There are countless senior high school students that are aware and had

already experienced drinking alcohol. Student’s characteristics are the ground and basis

of this research.

The K to 12 program grants the senior high school an advantage that will help

them improve their cognitive thinking, physical attributes, creativity, practicality, etc.

Senior high school students are expected to have reached a level of maturity and these

students can decide on their own. With a productive and practical view in this world,

they are able to exceed many problems that they will encounter (Mejia & Nava, 2017).
 St. Louis College Valenzuela
Faculty of Arts, Languages, Literature and Research
Senior High School Department

The statement of Mejia and Nava explained the attributes of K to 12 program can

offer to senior high school students. Larsen (2016) discloses that students know the

minor limitations of alcohol availability like the prices of alcohol in different kinds of

stores and when to restrain from drinking especially during the school week. Within a

campus, alcohol consumption is a common and conventional practice. Students do not

listen and follow the school regulations, instead, they make their regulations relating to

what their behavior is. Some students are in a state of thinking whether their level of

drinking is leading them to alcohol dependency or alcohol abuse.

The assertion of Larsen discussed the knowledge of students toward alcohol.

Pennington (2009) affirms that students generally at high school level especially at

senior high school are exposed to adult-like relationships as some of the students have

been already in a relationship. Most of the students have these characteristics:

1. Concerned and attentive in co-educational activities

2. Open-mindedness

3. Conscious about their community and surroundings

4. Seeking a chance to express their self

5. Their education must be prioritized by adults

Senior high school students are at the age where they can gather enormous experience

in this world. Senior high school students undergo numerous experiences.

 St. Louis College Valenzuela
Faculty of Arts, Languages, Literature and Research
Senior High School Department

The affirmation of Pennington discussed the state of maturity of the senior high

school students. ScienceDaily (2007) emphasizes that most of the senior high school

students drink for several reasons, they want to experiment with alcohol, drink to feel

relaxed and relieved from stress, and some drink just for the thrill of it. Dealing with

frustration and anger includes alcohol as this is able for some students to get away from

their problems for a short time.

It is in this light that this research discusses about the impacts of alcohol consumption to

the academic performance of senior high school students.