Underage drinking reaches lowest level in survey history
Continuing long-term declines, current underage drinking, binge drinking, annual and lifetime consumption are at the lowest level in survey history among America’s youth at all three grade levels measured in the 2014 Monitoring the Future Survey.
Peer disapproval of binge drinking continues to increase and the ease of obtaining alcohol continues to decline both of which may be contributing factors in the noted decreases in underage drinking. From 2005 to 2014, lifetime consumption has declined 35% among 8th graders, 22% among 10th graders and 12% among 12th graders. During the same time period, current underage drinking trends also show a decade decline of 47% among 8th graders, 29% among 10th graders and 20% among high school seniors.
For more than two decades the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org) has been a leader in the fight to eliminate drunk driving and underage drinking and has played a significant role in these noted reductions by bringing individuals, families and communities together through programs such as #TalkEarly, AskListenLearn, and IKnowEverything. Today’s Monitoring the Future data is good news, but our work is not finished. Follow us on social media to continue a lifetime of conversations about alcohol responsibility and help our nation’s youth say “yes” to a healthy lifestyle and “no” to underage drinking.