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Underage Alcohol Use Facts

Underage Alcohol Use Facts

The facts about underage alcohol use.   

Underage alcohol use is a widespread problem in the U.S. and in Michigan.   Alcohol is a significant factor in the deaths of people younger than age 21, including deaths from motor vehicle crashes, homicides, alcohol overdoses, falls, burns, drowning, and suicides. Alcohol use also increases the likelihood of physical and sexual assault, and interferes with brain development (which continues well into a person’s twenties).

The following facts and statistics provide more evidence of this critical problem among our nation’s youth. In a 2022 nationwide survey of youth ages 12 to 20:

  • 5.8 million reported drinking more than “just a few sips” of alcohol in the past month.
  • 3.2 million reported binge drinking at least once in the past month.
  • 646,000 reported binge drinking on 5 or more days over the past month.

 

Underage drinking fact

 

Though young people drink less often than adults, they are more likely to binge when they do drink. And the earlier they start drinking, the more likely they’ll have 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 on.   

Other physical and mental health risks from adolescent drinking include:

  • Increased risk of other substance misuse
  • Cognitive or learning problems
  • Behavioral problems in school and at home