iMOM

News you need to know about underage alcohol use

Although the use of alcohol is illegal for persons under the age of 21, its use constitutes one of the principal public health issues for persons aged 12 to 20 and reduction of underage alcohol use is a top public health priority of the Federal Government. Many of the efforts to prevent or reduce underage alcohol use attempt to reduce the availability of alcohol to underage drinkers. Data from the 2006 and 2007 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs) indicate that even with efforts to reduce availability, underage drinkers are still able to obtain alcohol.

More than one quarter (28.1 percent) of persons aged 12 to 20 used alcohol in the past month, including more than half (51.1 percent) of those aged 18 to 20, 25.9 percent of those aged 15 to 17, and 6.1 percent of those aged 12 to 14.

Nearly one third of current alcohol users aged 12 to 20 (30.6 percent) paid for the last alcohol they used, more than one in four (26.4 percent) got it for free from a nonrelative aged 21 or older, 14.6 percent got it for free from another underage person, 5.9 percent got it from a parent or guardian, and 8.5 percent got it from another relative aged 21 or older.

Current alcohol users aged 12 to 20 consumed more drinks on average the last time if they paid for the last alcohol they used (6.0 drinks) compared with those who did not pay for their last alcohol (3.9 drinks)

Even with increased efforts to reduce the availability of alcohol to young people, data from NSDUH indicate that underage drinkers are able to purchase or obtain alcohol from relatives and friends at an unacceptably high rate. This should be of grave concern to parents, professionals, policymakers, and others who are attempting to reduce the negative consequences of underage alcohol use.

Click here to download the NSDUH's full report on Underage Alcohol Use.

Used with permission from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

The information provided in this article by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is news that iMOM thinks you need to know. Recommendations are the opinion of SAMHSA and not necessarily those of iMOM.