Underage Drinking: It's Everybody's Problem!

Underage Drinking: It’s Everybody’s Problem!
The public health and social impacts of alcohol are not always fully recognized. In North America, alcohol is the second leading risk factor for all premature mortality and burden of disease (i.e., the impact of illness and injuries across the lifespan; Said & Wegman, 2007). Additionally, alcohol accounts for almost four times the negative public health impact of all illicit drugs combined (Rehm et al., 2006). Furthermore, the impact of alcohol is disproportionately slanted toward younger persons, primarily because alcohol has many acute impacts such as crashes, violence, falls, and suicides that can result in lifelong disabilities or even early death (Rehm et al., 2006). These consequences are not limited to those with alcohol use disorders; all drinkers are susceptible, especially at times of drinking to impairment, which is a common style of consumption for underage drinkers (SAMHSA, 2008). Based on economic models developed by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, the cost of underage drinking in Erie County is about $170 million each year. Thus, the rationale for an underage drinking initiative is overwhelming.