This document discusses the risks of underage drinking and provides evidence of the negative impacts of alcohol use on the developing teenage brain. It notes that drinking episodes increase dramatically during adolescence and that initiation of drinking before age 15 significantly increases the risk of alcoholism. Scans and studies show structural and chemical brain damage from alcohol use during teenage years when critical areas of the brain associated with reasoning and decision-making are still developing. The document advocates for clear community standards that discourage underage drinking and notes the importance of adult role models and consequences in preventing youth substance use.