650,000 underage drinkers in the past month were given alcohol by their parents or guardians.

More than 40 percent of the Nation's estimated 10.8 million underage current drinkers (persons aged 12 to 20 who drank in the past 30 days) were provided free alcohol by adults 21 or older, according to a nationwide report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The study also indicates that 1 in 16 underage drinkers (6.4 percent or 650,000) was given alcoholic beverages by their parents in the past month.

"In far too many instances parents directly enable their children's underage drinking - in essence encouraging them to risk their health and well-being," said Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H., a rear admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service. "Proper parental guidance alone may not be the complete solution to this devastating public health problem - but it is a critical part."

Read the full news release

Underage Alcohol Use:
Findings From the 2002-2006 NSDUH

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