Last Updated on December 10, 2019 by Valarie Ward

“For the Health of It: Early Education on Alcoholism and Addiction.”

~National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD)

This year, the NCADD’s theme for Alcohol Awareness Month is directly aimed at bringing awareness to underage drinking and the long term effect in adulthood. We believe it couldn’t be a better time to talk about early education of youth and teens about the risks and consequences of over indulging in alcohol. Like tobacco and cigarettes, it is not illegal to use alcoholic substances as long as you meet the minimum age requirement. In the US, the “legal age” for drinking alcohol is 21. However, the CDC reports that about 11% of all alcohol consumed in the US is by of youth ages 12 – 20.

When you consider the number of television commercials, bill board ads and even social media ads showing fun parties and good times around alcohol, it’s no wonder children are curious to discover alcohol. Some will argue these overly suggestive ads have a very strong influence on youth, even greater than that of their parents, and may be the main reason for underage drinking. Studies prove the dangers and risks associated with alcohol are greater for children than they are for adults.

The Risks & Consequences of Underage Drinking: 6 Reasons to Educate Youth Early About Alcohol

1. Yes, it’s legal to drink alcohol once you’re 21, but it is possible to have too much of a “good” thing. Last year alone, the CDC reported that binge drinking causes over 88,000 deaths every year in the United States. The same study reports binge drinking ranks #3 on the list of deaths caused by lifestyle related habits. Educating children early on about these types of risks can show them why it is important for adults to limit the amount of alcohol they drink to no more than 1-2 drinks at a time. (CDC)
2. The latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey results of students in grades 9 through 12 in public and private schools reports 18.6% of students started drinking alcohol before the age of 13. The survey also shows 34.9% of the students had at least one drink within 30 days of the survey. This means students are indeed exposed to alcohol before they even enter high school. Since that is the case, there is good reason to educate children of the dangers of underage drinking as early as middle school. (YRBS, CDC)
3. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) college drinking data shows that more than 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape. With cases in the news regarding date rape and assaults on college campuses throughout the country, we can not deny the dangers of drunken behavior among college students. (NIAAA)
4. In response to the question, “Why is the age of first use important?”, the NCADD pointed out that children who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop a dependence or abuse of alcohol than those who wait until they become 21. (NCADD)
5. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) studies show that high school students who use alcohol or other substances are 5 times more likely to drop out of school. (NIDA)
6. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Traffic Safety Facts reported about 25% of all car crashes caused by teen drivers are the result of an underage driver who is impaired.

What Can We Do To Prevent Underage Drinking

As providers of DWI and substance abuse services, we have witnessed the dangers youth put themselves in when they drink alcohol. From DWI arrests to suspended drivers licenses, date rape charges, and car accidents, youth put themselves at a higher risk whenever they engage in adult social behavior like drinking alcohol.

As this month’s Alcohol Awareness campaign suggests, if we are going to prevent underage drinking, we have to address this problem with our youth before they are old enough to get behind the wheel of a car and long before they go to college. We are in full agreement that early education is the best way to prevention.

Here’s a message from Talk It Out, North Carolina’s campaign to stop underage drinking: It’s never too early to talk to [your kids] about alcohol, but it may be too late.”

Underage drinking and substance abuse affects everyone, which means we are all responsible for underage drinking prevention and education. The risks of drinking alcohol at an early age far outweigh the benefits of a few moments of indulgence.