Underage Drinking

The Underage Drinking topic includes research on alcohol consumption by individuals under age 21. Underage drinking is a serious public health problem in the United States that presents multiple risks and negative consequences.

Underage drinking plays a significant role in injuries and deaths of people younger than age 21 each year. Drinking can impair judgement, increase the risk of physical and sexual assault, and can lead to other issues, including trouble with school and the law, as well as being associated with the use of other substances. Alcohol can impact brain development, potentially affecting the structure and function of the brain in young people whose brains are still growing and changing. Adolescents who start drinking before age 15 are also at higher risk of developing alcohol use disorder as adults.