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UNDERAGE DRINKING

Working together, the beverage alcohol industry, governments, individuals, and private organizations are making progress in combating underage drinking and drunk driving. The most effective means of continuing this positive trend occurs through positive parental involvement and peer guidance; an objective understanding of the facts; and by stressing education, tough laws, strict enforcement of state purchase laws, and positive peer pressure.

Underage Drinking: Continuing Progress, But More Should Be Done

  • Underage drinking is near its lowest point since 1974 when data were first collected. The distilled spirits industry, through its public education and social responsibility programs, has been a part of this progress1.

  • According to the latest data from the University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future Study, underage drinking rates for 8th, 10th, and 12th graders are near or at their all-time lows for lifetime use, annual use, and 30-day use categories2. In fact, in the important past 30-day use measure:
    • 8th grade usage has declined -31.9% since data was available in 1991.
    • 10th grade usage has declined -22.4% since data was available in 1991.
    • 12th grade usage has declined -13.0% since 1991.

  • The University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future study also reports that the proportion of college students reporting daily drinking declined 43 percent between 1980 and 20043; and drinking in the preceding thirty days declined by nearly 17.2 percent during the same period4.

  • According to the latest data from SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use & Health, the percentage of 12-17 year-olds reporting monthly alcohol use has declined by 50 percent since 19825.

  • Fewer young drivers are drinking and then getting into fatal accidents, killing either themselves or others. In its 2001 report, "Determine Why There Are Fewer Young Alcohol-Impaired Drivers" the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describes the progress in reducing youth drinking and driving as "spectacular"6. This "spectacular" progress is reflected in a 51% reduction in the number of young drinking/drunk drivers involved in fatal accidents since 19827. This takes into account any drinking by the young driver (BAC .01+).

  • Similarly, fewer youth (under-21) are being tragically killed in alcohol related traffic accidents. According to NHTSA, total alcohol-related fatalities for youth under 21 has declined 59 percent, going from 6,512 in 1982 to 2,665 in 2004.

Listening to Young People

  • Revealing voices on underage drinking are young people themselves. They consistently cite their parents and peers as the most influential factor in their decision to drink or not drink.

  • According to a 1996 national survey by the Roper Starch research organization, when asked what influences their decisions to drink or not drink, over 60 percent of young people consistently cited their parents as their primary influence, 28 percent cited their peers, while only 4 percent cited advertisements.

  • A 1997 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association also underscores that influences within the home are the most powerful in combating illegal, underage drinking. ("Protecting Adolescents From Harm: Findings From the National Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health," Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 278 No. 10, pp. 823-832 (September 10, 1997).) This study showed that adolescents who have strong social support systems, including parents and teachers, are less likely to consume alcohol. In addition, the study found that, among older students, lack of parental presence in the home was associated with alcohol use.

    • A recent NHSDA report showed that young people who enjoy school and find school work meaningful are less likely to abuse alcohol than youths who do not have positive attitudes toward school.8

  • These results were confirmed by the 2000 SADD-Liberty Mutual annual survey. The survey found that teens who talk to their parents about drinking are significantly less likely to engage in ‘regular' drinking than teens who do not talk to their parents about drinking (12 percent versus 28 percent). The data also shows that teens drink and drive less if they talk to their parents about drinking (8 percent), compared to teens who do not (18 percent).

Focusing on Solutions That Work

  • Mutual cooperation between the industry, educators, government, and the public has worked in reducing alcohol abuse, including illegal, underage drinking and drunk driving.

  • The distilled spirits industry has supported and continues to support programs combating alcohol abuse, drunk driving and illegal, underage drinking.

  • For example, the distilled spirits industry is a national leader in combating drunk driving through tough law enforcement and education. DISCUS initiated model legislation entitled, The Drunk Driving Prevention Act. Its provisions, many of which are being considered and adopted by state legislatures around the country, include mandatory alcohol education for drivers, zero tolerance for underage drivers, administrative license revocation, anti-open container laws, and drug and alcohol testing for drivers in fatal crashes.

  • The Century Council is a national not-for-profit organization funded by America's leading distillers. To fight drunk driving and underage drinking, The Council develops and implements innovative educational, public awareness and legislative programs with other national private and public organizations. To date, The Council's funding companies have invested more than $130 million in educational and outreach programs since 1991.

  • Fighting underage drinking and drunk driving have been at the centerpiece of The Century Council's mission since its inception in 1991.

  • Strong parental guidance, positive peer pressure, education, stringent anti-drunk driving and legal purchase laws, and strict enforcement of these laws effectively address underage drinking and drunk driving.

March 2006

1 National Institute on Drug Abuse, Monitoring the Future: Press Release, December 19, 2005; "Teen drug use down but progress halts among youngest teens."
2Ibid, Table 3.
3 National Institute on Drug Abuse, Monitoring the Future: National Survey Result on Drug Use, 1975-2004, Vol. II College Students and Adults Ages 19-45.
4 Ibid, Table 2-3, p. 51.
5 SAMHSA, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2004.
6 NHTSA, Determine Why There Are Fewer Young Alcohol Impaired Drivers, Report No. DOT HS 348, September 2001.
7 NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts 2004, Table 18.
8 NHSDA, The NHSDA Report, "School Experiences and Substance Use Among Youths," July 4, 2003.

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