Underage Drinking

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among America’s youth and can cause major health and safety risks.

Underage drinking poses a range of risks and negative consequences. It is dangerous because it:

• Causes many deaths and injuries. Alcohol is a significant factor in the deaths of people younger than age 21 in the United States each year. This includes deaths from motor vehicle crashes, homicides, alcohol overdoses, falls, burns, drowning, and suicides.
• Impairs judgment. Drinking can lead to poor decisions about taking risks, including unsafe sexual behavior, driving while impaired, and aggressive or violent behavior.
• Increases the risk of physical and sexual assault. Underage binge drinking is associated with an increased likelihood of being the victim or perpetrator of interpersonal violence.
• Can lead to other problems. Drinking may cause youth to have trouble in school or with the law. Drinking alcohol is also associated with the use of other substances.
• Increases the risk of alcohol problems later in life. Research shows that people who start drinking before the age of 15 are at a higher risk for developing alcohol use disorder (AUD) later in life. 
• Interferes with brain development. Research shows that people’s brains keep developing well into their 20s. Alcohol can alter this development, potentially affecting both brain structure and function, which may cause cognitive or learning problems 

Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol's Effects on Health. Research-based Information on Drinking and Its Impact. 2025, February. Retrieved from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/underage-drinking on 2025, February 5.

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