What About Alcohol Abuse?

Underage Drinking Continues to Drop in the United States

Underage alcohol consumption, including heavy and binge drinking, continues to decline in US, finds National Survey on Drug Use and Health, and the proportion of youths 12 to 17 years of age who reported that it is “fairly easy” or “very easy” to obtain alcoholic beverages continued to decline.

College Students Over-Estimate Their Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol breath testing found that college and university students over-estimated their alcohol consumption, contrary to common belief.

Effective Alcohol Abuse Prevention Education Programs Uncommon in Schools

Effective alcohol and substance abuse education programs are used in only about 10% of US school districts whereas the ineffective D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program is used in about 80% of American school districts.

Social Norms Marketing Intervention Effective in Reducing Alcohol Abuse among College and University Students

Social norms marketing effectively reduces alcohol abuse among college students, reports another research study.

Drinking Learner Permits or Licenses Would Promote Responsible Behavior Says Educational Leader

Drinking learner permits or licenses issued to qualified adults age 18, 19, and 20 might prepare them for responsible drinking just as driving learner permits help prepare new drivers to be responsible operating motor vehicles.

Illegal Attempts to Purchase Alcohol by Underage Persons Go Unpunished

Chances of an underage person being punished for attempting to illegally purchase alcohol in the U.K. is one in 282,000 attempts, estimates British Home Secretary. The state of Alaska has implemented an innovative law to address the problem of underage alcoholic beverage purchasers who use fake or false identification or ID cards.

How to Prevent Underage Alcohol Purchases

Alcohol retailers in Alaska can impose a civil liability of $1,000 on any underage person who uses a false or altered ID to attempt to purchase alcoholic beverages. Licensed establishments have an economic incentive for enforcing the law.

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