Reducing Underage Drinking
Reducing Underage Drinking

Author: Institute of Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2004-03-26

Total Pages: 761

ISBN-13: 0309089352

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Alcohol use by young people is extremely dangerous - both to themselves and society at large. Underage alcohol use is associated with traffic fatalities, violence, unsafe sex, suicide, educational failure, and other problem behaviors that diminish the prospects of future success, as well as health risks â€" and the earlier teens start drinking, the greater the danger. Despite these serious concerns, the media continues to make drinking look attractive to youth, and it remains possible and even easy for teenagers to get access to alcohol. Why is this dangerous behavior so pervasive? What can be done to prevent it? What will work and who is responsible for making sure it happens? Reducing Underage Drinking addresses these questions and proposes a new way to combat underage alcohol use. It explores the ways in which may different individuals and groups contribute to the problem and how they can be enlisted to prevent it. Reducing Underage Drinking will serve as both a game plan and a call to arms for anyone with an investment in youth health and safety.

Drinking-Age Laws
Drinking-Age Laws

Author: U S Government Accountability Office (G

Publisher: BiblioGov

Published: 2013-06

Total Pages: 114

ISBN-13: 9781289056483

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In response to a congressional request, GAO: (1) examined empirical research regarding the effect that changes in the legal drinking age have had on traffic accidents, alcohol consumption, driving after drinking, and related concerns for youth younger than the minimum drinking age; and (2) determined the extent to which these evaluations provide empirical support for federal and state policy initiatives. Congress passed legislation in 1984 requiring states to either raise the minimum drinking age to 21 years by September 30, 1986, or risk federal withholding of some federal-aid highway funds. By October 1986, eight states and Puerto Rico had not complied with the legislation. GAO found that studies on the law show that raising the minimum drinking age has: (1) had a significant effect on reducing alcohol-related traffic accidents for the age group affected by the law; and (2) reduced the consumption of alcohol and the incidence of driving after drinking. GAO also found limited or insufficient evidence to assess: (1) the effect that the increase in the legal drinking age has had on the involvement of 16- and 17-year-old drivers in alcohol-related accidents; (2) the extent that youth cross state lines to legally obtain alcoholic beverages; and (3) the long-term effects of the law.