NCJ Number
138590
Date Published
Unknown
Length
70 pages
Annotation
Findings from a 1990 national survey of junior and senior high students (7th through 12th grades) address alcoholic beverage consumption habits, access, attitudes, knowledge, understanding of what they are drinking, and the effectiveness of laws that mandate 21 years old as the minimum drinking age.
Abstract
Findings on drinking habits indicate that 51 percent of junior and senior high school students have had at least one drink within the past year; they drink 35 percent of all wine coolers sold in the United States and 1.1 billion cans of beer each year. These students lack essential knowledge about alcohol and its effects, and 9 million students receive their information about alcohol from unreliable sources. Seven million students are able to walk into a store and buy alcohol. Parents, friends, and alcoholic beverage advertisements influence students' attitudes about alcohol. State laws contain loopholes that permit underage drinking, and State and local agencies have difficulty enforcing youth alcohol laws. Nominal penalties against vendors and minors limit law enforcement effectiveness. Based on these findings, recommendations are offered.