No, most teens don’t drink. New studies show that the number of teens drinking alcohol and doing drugs is actually dropping. Just like sex, not “everyone’s doing it.” So don’t believe it.

Unfortunately, drinking is a big, meesy deal for many teens. Your friend may not have had something "bad' happen when he or she was drinking, but point with all of this has to do with RISK and LUCK.

Having a beer or a glass of wine isn't very high risk, as long as someone doesn't do that and then get behind the steering wheel of a car. What we know, unfortunately, is that far too many teens and young adults drink alcohol with the intention of getting drunk.

When you do this, there are a number of things you are at risk for:

• The immediate risks have to do with poor decision-making. You can end up having sex with someone when you didn't plan to. You can forget to use condoms or not even think of it. You can end up in situations when there's one of you and three other people who are planning to have sex with you--even if you don't want to, but you're too drunk to say "no" clearly. All of that can lead to an unplanned pregnancy, an STD (including HIV), and to emotional scarring that can affect future sexual and romantic relationships with others.

• There's also something called "alcohol poisoning." When people drink a lot of alcohol at one time, they're putting themselves at risk for this. Basically, your body shuts down. You go to bed feeling a bit drunk, and without anyone knowing it, end up in a coma or dead. In some high-profile cases in the news, both high school and college students have literally drunk themselves to death.

• Long-term risks have to do with how long a person drinks in this way. Alcohol can hurt every organ in your body. It goes right into your bloodstream and can increase your risk of getting serious diseases.

So, those are the risks. The other thing is luck--and yes, some people are lucky. But luck always, always, ALWAYS runs out. What you need to ask yourself is, is it worth the risk?