Underage drinking by the numbers

On Behalf of | Dec 5, 2016 | Underage Drinking

Underage drinking is a continuing and severe public health problem in the United States. Alcohol is the most abused substance by underage Americans. Furthermore, alcohol is linked to a variety of criminal activities and under-performance in school.

According to a study published by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, about 33 percent of 15-year-olds have tried at least one alcoholic beverage. By 18, 60 percent have had at least one drink. Furthermore, a survey conducted in 2015 found that 7.7 million young Americans (ages 12 to 20) reported that they consumed more than a few sips of alcohol in the past month.

In fact, youth consumption represents 11 percent of all alcohol drunk in the U.S.; teenagers drink less than adults, however, when they do drink, they tend to consume an excess amount in a short period. This phenomenon is referred to as “binge drinking.” A recent survey found that 1.3 million teenagers responded that they had binge drank on five or more days in the past month.

Underage drinking is widespread, and the risks are poorly understood. Alcohol is connected with increased rates of aggressive behavior, suicide, and sexual assault.

As illustrated above, underage drinking is a serious health problem in the United States. If your child is facing an underage drinking charge, you may want to speak to a defense lawyer. The police and prosecutors take underage drinking offenses very seriously. Your child could be endangering his or her future with an alcohol-related charge. An attorney can go over potential consequences for your child; a lawyer can help you prepare a defense.

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