NCJ Number
152306
Date Published
Unknown
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This panel determined that the issue of underage access to alcohol is important to communities; adolescents face enormous social pressures to drink, not only from their peers but also from the media.
Abstract
According to a recent national survey of high school seniors, 90 percent had consumed alcohol, 30 percent within the past 2 weeks. In a 1991 survey of Massachusetts youth between 16 and 19 years of age, 80 percent said they drank alcohol during the past year and 25 percent indicated they typically consumed five or more drinks on each drinking occasion. The alcohol industry spends over $2 billion yearly in advertising and promotion, and young people are continually bombarded with visual images that imply alcohol is an essential component of the good life. Legislation designed to address the alcohol problem is not always effective in prohibiting minors from misrepresenting their age and purchasing alcohol. Further, at least 6,000 young people die yearly in an event linked to alcohol. Alcohol consumption is particularly related to motor vehicle crashes, sexual risk taking, and school performance. Five recommendations are offered to prevent juvenile alcohol abuse: (1) make it illegal for individuals under 21 years of age to drive with any measurable amount of alcohol in their bodies; (2) increase the current Federal excise tax on alcoholic beverages by 5 cents per drink; (3) hold retail outlets and private individuals liable for negligently providing alcohol to minors; (4) require television, radio, and cable operators who run advertisements promoting alcoholic beverages to provide equal time for counter advertisements about the health risks of alcohol consumption; and (5) encourage local government officials and community coalitions to systematically assess teen access to alcohol in their communities and explore ways of reducing such access. A Uniform Vehicle Code and Model Traffic Ordinance is appended. 69 references, 2 tables, and 5 figures