The facts:
Underage alcohol, tobacco, and vape consumption remains a significant public health concern, with far-reaching consequences for individuals, families, and communities nationwide.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), alcohol remains the most widely used substance among American youth, and its use poses significant health risks:
- In 2022, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), about 19.7% of youth ages 14 to 15 reported having at least 1 drink in their lifetime.
- In 2022, 5.8 million youth ages 12 to 20 reported drinking alcohol beyond “just a few sips” in the past month.
People ages 12 to 20 drink 3.2% of all alcohol consumed in the United States. Although youth drink less often than adults, when they do drink, they drink more. Approximately 90% of all beverages containing alcohol consumed by youth are consumed by youth who engage in binge drinking:
- In 2022, 3.2 million youth ages 12 to 20 reported binge drinking at least once in the past month.
- In 2022, approximately 646,000 youth ages 12 to 20 reported binge drinking on 5 or more days over the past month
