Data from SAMHSA’s recent report
on underage drinking offer parents,
teachers, and other concerned adults
information on where drinking occurs
and how young people obtain alcohol.
More than 5,000 people under
age 21 die as a result of drinking
alcohol every year in the United
States, according to findings cited
in the report.
Where Young People Drink
Overall, a majority of underage drinkers in 2006
reported that when they last used alcohol they were
either in someone else’s home (53.4 percent)
or their own home (30.3 percent).
The next most popular drinking locations for this
age group were at a restaurant, bar, or club (9.4
percent); in a car or vehicle (5.5 percent); or at
a park, on a beach, or in a parking lot (4.8 percent).
Underage drinkers whose last drinking occasion was
at someone else’s home consumed an average of
4.9 drinks, while those whose last
drinking occasion was at their own homes consumed
an average of 4.0 drinks.
Among all underage current drinkers, 31.0 percent
paid for the alcohol the last time they drank, including
9.3 percent who purchased the alcohol themselves and
21.6 percent who gave money to someone else to purchase
it. The remaining 69.0 percent of underage drinkers
did not pay for the alcohol on their last drinking
occasion.
The most common sources of alcohol among underage
current drinkers vary substantially
by age group. (See
the chart for details.)
The findings from this SAMHSA study are being incorporated
into the Underage Drinking Prevention campaign, an
ongoing public outreach effort by the Office of the
Surgeon General, SAMHSA, and the Ad Council encouraging
parents to speak with their children early and often
about the negative effects of underage drinking.
The campaign provides parents with valuable information
about the problem of underage drinking as well as
tips for how to talk to their children about it. Further
information about the campaign can be obtained at
www.stopalcoholabuse.gov.
This is a
horizontal bar graph, where the
percentage reporting different sources
of alcohol for their last drinking
episode is shown on the horizontal
axis. On the vertical axis are shown
three age groups (12 to 14, 15 to
17, and 18 to 20), and within each
age group are nine sources of alcohol
(purchased alcohol themselves; purchased
by someone else [underage person
paid]; received from parent or guardian;
received from other family member;
received from unrelated person aged
21 or older; received from someone
under age 21; took it from own home;
took it from someone else's home;
or other).
Among current drinkers aged 12
to 14, 1.2 percent purchased alcohol
themselves when they last used alcohol,
5.3 percent paid for the alcohol
but had someone else purchase it,
17.1 percent received the alcohol
from their parent or guardian, 13.1
percent received the alcohol from
a family member other than a parent
or guardian, 13.7 percent received
alcohol from an unrelated person
aged 21 or older, 17.5 percent received
alcohol from someone under age 21,
15.0 percent took alcohol from their
own home, 6.6 percent took alcohol
from someone else's home, and 10.0
percent obtained alcohol from some
other source.
Among current drinkers aged 15
to 17, 5.4 percent purchased alcohol
themselves when they last used alcohol,
17.9 percent paid for the alcohol
but had someone else purchase it,
8.0 percent received the alcohol
from their parent or guardian, 9.0
percent received the alcohol from
a family member other than a parent
or guardian, 20.1 percent received
alcohol from an unrelated person
aged 21 or older, 19.9 percent received
alcohol from someone under age 21,
5.0 percent took alcohol from their
own home, 4.7 percent took alcohol
from someone else's home, and 8.8
percent obtained alcohol from some
other source.
Among current drinkers aged 18
to 20, 12.2 percent purchased alcohol
themselves when they last used alcohol,
25.3 percent paid for the alcohol
but had someone else purchase it,
4.4 percent received the alcohol
from their parent or guardian, 7.5
percent received the alcohol from
a family member other than a parent
or guardian, 30.0 percent received
alcohol from an unrelated person
aged 21 or older, 11.0 percent received
alcohol from someone under age 21,
2.1 percent took alcohol from their
own home, 1.6 percent took alcohol
from someone else's home, and 5.1
percent obtained alcohol from some
other source.
