NCJ Number
169901
Date Published
1992
Length
3 pages
Annotation
During 1991 and 1992, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services conducted a survey of junior and senior high school students, a review of laws on underage drinking, an analysis of controls on alcohol advertising, and secondary research on the unrecognized consequences of underage drinking.
Abstract
The survey used personal interviews to collect information from a random national sample of 956 students in grades 7 through 12. Results revealed that 51 percent (10.2 of 20.4 million) of all students had at least one drink in the 12 months before the interview. Two-thirds of all student who drink are able to walk into a store and buy alcohol, despite its illegality for minors. Students also lack essential knowledge about alcohol; 9 million students receive their information from unreliable sources. Two-thirds of students cannot distinguish alcoholic from nonalcoholic beverages. State laws contain loopholes that permit underage drinking. Alcohol industry advertising standards are voluntary and do not effectively restrict advertisements that appeal to youth. Researchers have linked underage drinking with criminal activity, serious injuries, and unintentional death among youth. Recommended actions for the Surgeon General are to consult and collaborate with public and private agencies to improve educational programs, improve beverage labeling, emphasize the need for improved law enforcement, and reduce the appeal of alcoholic beverage advertising. The Surgeon General has already taken some actions in response to the problems identified in the OIG reports.