United States: New Government Study Shows No Increase in Underage Drinking

Source: The Distilled Spirits Council

December 14, 2017

The latest Monitoring the Future study reports no significant changes in alcohol consumption among teens in 2017.  Moreover, the study indicates underage drinking rates are still down significantly from the survey’s peak years two decades ago. In releasing the study, its authors noted that, “These are dramatic declines for such a culturally ingrained behavior and good news to many parents.”

Dr. Sam Zakhari, senior vice president of science of the Distilled Spirits Council stated, “Key to further declines is educating parents and other adults about the seriousness of providing alcohol to teens.”

Zakhari noted that, according to government research, most teens obtain alcohol primarily through non-commercial sources such as an unrelated person of legal drinking age or an adult family member.

The distilled spirits sector has played an important role in addressing underage drinking through the programs of the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility and support for the Federal Trade Commission’s “We don’t Serve Teens” program.