Get the Facts About Underage Drinking

Underage drinking is a serious public health problem in the United States. Many youth drink, and when they do, they often binge drink. (See the Underage Drinking Facts and Statistics page for more information about the prevalence and scope of the problem.)

Get the Facts About Underage Drinking

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.¹

• 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.²

• 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.³

• Interferes with brain development. Research shows that people’s brains keep developing well into their 20s. Alcohol can alter this development, potentially affected structure and function. See the Alcohol and the Adolescent Brain fact sheet for more information.

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 many cases, adolescents have access to alcohol through family members or find it at home.

Source: NIAAA.NIH.gov