The Tragedy of Underage
Drinking in America
Alcohol is a $115 billion industry in the United States and binge drinkers make up 76 percent of sales nationwide. In spite of the fact that the U.S. legal age for drinking is 21, studies show that underage drinkers make up 10 percent of the alcohol market and spend approximately $10 billion annually (19). Underage drinking is a common and widely spread problem that has serious health and social consequences; affecting society, the teenagers and their families tremendously. “Underage drinking costs the United States $53 billion a year in medical care, lost productivity, and the pain and suffering of young drinkers (4).”
Teenagers prepare for a night of hard partying.
“Each day, more than 7000 kids in the United States under the age of 16 take their first drink. One in five eighth graders is a current drinker (13).” “By age 14, more than half of the children who reported using any alcohol in the past month also reported having had 5 or more drinks in a single occasion in that same month (6).” Binge drinking among teenagers is a tragedy. It is a reflection of the fascination in the U.S. with alcohol in general. Much needs to be done to save young lives and protect those of us who are at risk.