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THE COMMUNITY

The following statistics show the relationship between the availability and awareness of alcohol in the community, and alcohol abuse and underage drinking. References appear at the end of the section.

The following statistics show the relationship between the availability and awareness of alcohol in the community, and alcohol abuse and underage drinking. References appear at the end of the section.  For additional information, see also Statistics, Society and Information For You, Concerned Citizens.

An overwhelming number of Americans (96%) are concerned about underage drinking, and a majority support measures that would help reduce teen drinking, such as stricter controls on alcohol sales, advertising, and promotion.1

  • In a national survey a majority of respondents supported policies restricting access to alcohol:

– 80% supported the minimum legal drinking age of 21

– 87% believed there should be penalties for adult providers of alcohol to youth

– 70% supported compliance checks

– 81% supported higher alcohol taxes.1

  • A majority of the respondents in the above survey supported restrictions on advertising and marketing of alcohol:

– 67% supported bans on liquor ads on TV

– 59% supported bans on beer and wine ads on TV

– 61% supported bans on billboard alcohol ads

– 62% supported bans on sports promotion.1

  • In a national study, 8th-and 10th graders reported disapproval of certain drinking behaviors among their peers:
– 54.0% of 8th-graders and 39.5% of 10th-graders disapprove of those who try one or two drinks of alcohol
– 80.4% and 77.1% disapprove of those who take one or two drinks every day
– 83.8% and 74.1% disapprove of those who have five or more drinks once or twice each weekend. 2

 

 

References

1 Wagenaar AC, Harwood E, Bernat D. 2002. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2001 Youth Access to Alcohol Survey: Summary Report. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, Alcohol Epidemiology Program.

2 Johnston LD, O'Malley PM, Bachman JG, and Schulenberg JE. 2007. Data tables from the 2007 Monitoring the Future Survey. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan News and Information Services. [On-line]. Available: www.monitoringthefuture.org; accessed 12/12/07.