2025-01-04 21:52 Get the Facts About Underage Drinking | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Get the Facts About Underage Drinking
Underage drinking is a serious public health problem in the United States. Alcohol is the most widely
used substance among America’s youth and can cause them enormous health and safety risks.
The consequences of underage drinking can affect everyone—regardless of age or drinking status.
Either directly or indirectly, we all feel the effects of the aggressive behavior, property damage,
injuries, violence, and deaths that can result from underage drinking. This is not simply a problem for
some families—it is a nationwide concern.
Underage Drinking Statistics
Many Youth Drink Alcohol
In 2023, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), about 19.9% of
youth ages 14 to 15 reported having at least one drink in their lifetime.1
In 2023, 5.6 million youth ages 12 to 20 reported drinking alcohol beyond “just a few sips” in
the past month.2
Adolescent alcohol use differs by race and ethnicity. For example, at age 14, White, Black,
and Hispanic youth are equally likely to drink. By age 18, White and Hispanic youth are twice
as likely to drink than Black youth.3
Youth Often Binge Drink
People ages 12 to 20 drink 3.2% of all alcohol consumed in the United States. Although youth drink
less often than adults, when they do drink, they drink more. Approximately 90% of all beverages
containing alcohol consumed by youth are consumed by youth who engage in binge drinking (see
the "What Is Binge Drinking?" box).4
In 2023, 3.3 million youth ages 12 to 20 reported binge drinking at least once in the past
month.2
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In 2023, approximately 663,000 youth ages 12 to 20 reported binge drinking on five or more
days over the past month.2
Drinking Patterns Vary by Age and Gender
Alcohol use often begins during adolescence and becomes more likely as adolescents age. In 2023,
about one in 100 adolescents ages 12 to 13 reported drinking alcohol in the past month, and about
one in 200 engaged in binge drinking.5 Among respondents ages 16 to 17, fewer than one in five
reported drinking, and fewer than one in 10 reported binge drinking.5 Implementing prevention
strategies during early adolescence is needed to prevent this escalation, particularly because earlier
alcohol use is associated with a higher likelihood of a variety of alcohol-related consequences.6
Historically, adolescent boys were more likely to drink and binge drink than girls. Now, that
relationship has reversed. Past-month alcohol use among adolescents ages 12 to 17 has declined
more in recent years for boys than girls.7 Now, more girls report more alcohol use (7.9% for girls vs.
6.0% for boys) and binge drinking (4.5% for girls vs. 3.3% for boys).8,9
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Underage Drinking Is Dangerous
Underage drinking poses a range of risks and negative consequences. It is dangerous because it:
Causes many deaths. Alcohol is a significant factor in the deaths of people younger than
age 21 in the United States each year. This includes deaths from motor vehicle crashes,
homicides, alcohol overdoses, falls, burns, drowning, and suicides.
Causes many injuries. Drinking alcohol can cause youth to have accidents and get hurt. In
2011 alone, about 188,000 people younger than age 21 visited an emergency room for
alcohol-related injuries.10
Impairs judgment. Drinking can lead to poor decisions about taking risks, including unsafe
sexual behavior, drinking and driving, and aggressive or violent behavior.
Increases the risk of physical and sexual assault. Underage binge drinking is associated
with an increased likelihood of being the victim or perpetrator of interpersonal violence.11
Can lead to other problems. Drinking may cause youth to have trouble in school or with the
law. Drinking alcohol is also associated with the use of other substances.
Increases the risk of alcohol problems later in life. Research shows that people who start
drinking before the age of 15 are at a higher risk for developing alcohol use disorder (AUD)
later in life. For example, adults ages 26 and older who began drinking before age 15 are
3.5 times more likely to report having AUD in the past year than those who waited until age 21
or later to begin drinking.12
Interferes with brain development. Research shows that people’s brains keep developing
well into their 20s. Alcohol can alter this development, potentially affecting both brain structure
and function. This may cause cognitive or learning problems as well as may increase
vulnerability for AUD, especially when people start drinking at a young age and drink
heavily.13,14
Why Do So Many Youth Drink?
As children mature, it is natural for them to assert their independence, seek new challenges, and
engage in risky behavior. Underage drinking is one such behavior that attracts many adolescents.
They may want to try alcohol but often do not fully recognize its effects on their health and behavior.
Other reasons youth drink alcohol include:
Peer pressure
Increased independence or the desire for it
Stress
In addition, many youth have easy access to alcohol. In 2023, among adolescents ages 15 to 17
who reported drinking alcohol in the past month, 84.3% reported getting it for free the last time they
drank.15 In many cases, adolescents have access to alcohol through family members or find it at
home.
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What Is Binge Drinking?
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as a
pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08%—or 0.08
grams of alcohol per deciliter—or higher. For a typical adult, this pattern corresponds to
consuming five or more drinks (male), or four or more drinks (female), in about two
hours.16 Research shows that fewer drinks in the same timeframe result in the same BAC in
youth: only three drinks for girls, and three to five drinks for boys, depending on their age
and size.17 In the United States, a "standard drink" is defined as any beverage containing
0.6 fl oz or 14 grams of pure alcohol.
Preventing Underage Drinking
Preventing underage drinking is a complex challenge. Any successful approach must consider many
factors, including:
Genetics
Personality
Rate of maturation and development
Level of risk
Social factors
Environmental factors
Several key approaches have been found to be successful. They are:
Individual-level interventions. This approach seeks to change the way youth think about
alcohol so they are better able to resist pressures to drink.
School-based interventions. These are programs that provide students with the knowledge,
skills, motivation, and opportunities they need to remain alcohol-free.
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Family-based interventions. These are efforts to empower parents to set and enforce clear
rules against drinking, as well as improve communication between children and parents about
alcohol.
Community-based interventions. Community-based interventions are often coordinated by
local coalitions working to mitigate risk factors for alcohol misuse.
Policy-level interventions. This approach makes alcohol harder to get—for example, by
raising the price of alcohol and keeping the U.S. Minimum Legal Drinking Age at 21. Enacting
zero-tolerance laws that outlaw driving after any amount of drinking for people younger than
21 can also help prevent problems.
The Role Parents Play
Parents and teachers can play a meaningful role in shaping youth’s attitudes toward drinking.
Parents, in particular, can have either a positive or negative influence.
Parents can help their children avoid alcohol problems by:
Talking about the dangers of drinking
Drinking responsibly if they choose to drink
Serving as positive role models in general
Not making alcohol available
Getting to know their children’s friends
Having regular conversations about life in general
Connecting with other parents about sending clear messages about the importance of youth
not drinking alcohol
Supervising all parties to make sure there is no alcohol
Encouraging kids to participate in healthy and fun activities that do not involve alcohol
Research shows that children of actively involved parents are less likely to drink alcohol.18 However,
if parents provide alcohol to their kids (even small amounts), have positive attitudes about drinking,
and engage in alcohol misuse, adolescents have an increased risk of misusing alcohol. Moreover, if
the adolescent has a parent with AUD, they are less likely to be protected from alcohol misuse
through parental engagement and other factors.19
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