Starting alcohol use at a young age significantly increases the risk of alcoholism later in life. Alcohol is also a leading cause of death among teenagers due to traffic accidents and other injuries, and nearly one third of high school students report hazardous binge drinking according to surveys. Traffic crashes, where alcohol is a factor, are the greatest cause of death for people aged 6 to 33 years old.

2.  The younger you are when you start
drinking, the greater your chance of
becoming addicted to alcohol at some
point in your life. More than 4 in 10
people who begin drinking before age
15 eventually become alcoholics.

3.  Alcohol is a leading cause of death
among youth, particularly teenagers. It
contributes substantially to adolescent
motor vehicle crashes, other traumatic
injuries, suicide, date rape, and family
and school problems.

4.  Alcohol is by far the most used and
abused drug among America’s
teenagers. According to a national
survey, nearly one third (31.5%) of all high
school students reported hazardous
drinking (5+ drinks in one setting) during
the 30 days preceding the survey.

5.  Traffic crashes are the greatest single
cause of death for persons aged 6-33.
About 45% of these fatalities are in
alcohol-related crashes.

6.  In one survey, 50% of high school seniors
reported that they drank alcohol in the
past 30 days, with 32% of them reporting
that they were drunk at least once.