Underage Drinking Prevention
Did you know?
Alcohol is the most widely used substance amoung America's youth. Making underage drinking is a serious problem across the United States. The consequences of underage drinking can affect everyone, regardless of age or drinking status. Either directly or indirectly, we all feel the effects of aggressive behavior, property damange, injuries, violence, and deaths that can result from underage drinking. This is just a prblem for some families--it is a nationwise concern.
Easy Access to Alcohol
In 2023, teens ages 15-17 years old who reported drinking alchol in the past month 84.3% reported getting it for free the last time they drank. In many cases, adolescents have access to alcohol through family members, or find it at home.
Below is an example of legal penalties a parent or guardian could face by providing an underaged youth with alcohol.
Sticker Shock Event!
Did you know? It's against the law for parents to provide alcohol to anyone under 21-even in their own home.
Let's work together to keep youth safe and substance free!
To serve as a reminder RISE: Ostego Substance Free Youth participated in placing stickers on alcohol at local party stores to remind everyone that distributing alcohol to minors is prohibited. They were supported by local law enforcement to really drive the message home.
Sticker Shock in Action 2025
Sticker Shock in Action 2026
Drinking Under 21: The Real Deal
Did you know?
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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.
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For a typical adult, binge drinking corresponds to drinking 5 or more drinks (male), or 4 or more drinks (female), in about two hours.
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Research shows that fewer drinks in the same timeframe result in the same BAC in youth.
Fast Facts
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Factors in a young person's environment affect both the appeal of alcohol and its availablity. Among these factors are the social systems within which teens function and with which they interact.
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Examples of these social systems are parents, friends, family, schools, and the community. The media and the larger social culture, including how alcohol is marketed and portrayed, also contributes to alcohol's appeal to young people.
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The different "worlds" teens live in can have a big effect on their drinking. Teens with behavior or family problems are at higher risk for alcohol use.
Impact by the Numbers
Many people don't know that underage alcohol use is a major cause of death from injuries among young people.
Each year, approximately 5,000 people under the age of 21 dies as a result of underage drinking. This includes:
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1,900 deaths from motor vehicle crashes,
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1,600 deaths as a result of homicides,
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300 deaths as a result of suicide,
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hundres of other injuries such as falls, burns and drownings.
Changing Trends
Good news: Alcohol use among youth 12-17 is going down--but not for everyone.
Historically, adolescent boys were more likely to drink and binge drink than girls. Now, that relationship is reversed.
More girls are reporting alcohol use and binge drinking. It's a trend we should be talking about.
If we are looking at numbers, 15.6% of girls report drinking in the past month, versus 13.7% boys who reported drinking or binge drinking.