Reducing Underage Drinking

Alcohol use by young people is extremely dangerous — both to themselves and society at large. Underage alcohol use is associated with traffic fatalities, violence, unsafe sex, suicide, educational failure, and other problem behaviors that diminish the prospects of future success, as well as health risks — and the earlier teens start drinking, the greater the danger. Despite these serious concerns, the media continues to make drinking look attractive to youth, and it remains possible and even easy for teenagers to get access to alcohol.

Why is this dangerous behavior so pervasive? What can be done to prevent it? What will work and who is responsible for making sure it happens? Reducing Underage Drinking addresses these questions and proposes a new way to combat underage alcohol use. It explores the ways in which may different individuals and groups contribute to the problem and how they can be enlisted to prevent it. Reducing Underage Drinking will serve as both a game plan and a call to arms for anyone with an investment in youth health and safety.

Table of Contents

• Front Matter
• Executive Summary
• 1. Introduction: The Challenge
• I. Underage Drinking in the United States - 2. Characteristics of Underage Drinking
• 3. Consquences of Underage Drinking
• 4. Understanding Youth Drinking
• II. The Strategy - 5. Designing the Strategy
• 6. National Media Campaign
• 7. Alcohol Industry
• 8. Entertainment Industries
• 9. Access
• 10. Youth-Oriented Interventions
• 11. Communities
• 12. Federal and State Governments
• References
• Appendix A: Statement of Task
• Appendix B: Agenda and Participants, October 10-11, 2002, Public Workshop
• Appendix C: Agenda and Participants, November 18, 2002, Open Committee Meeting and Public Forum
• Appendix D: Other Public Contributors
• Appendix E: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and Staff
• Index
• 1 The Epidemiology of Underage Drinking in the United States: An Overview--Robert L. Flewelling, Mallie J. Paschall, and Christopher Ringwalt
• 2 Social, Health, and Economic Consequences of Underage Drinking--Ralph Hingson and Donald Kenkel
• 3 Health Consequences of Adolescent Alcohol Involvement--Sandra A. Brown and Susan F. Tapert
• 4 Developmental and Environmental Influences on Underage Drinking: A General Overview--Bonnie L. Halpern-Felsher and Michael Biehl
• 5 Perceptions of Risk and Social Judgments: Biases and Motivational Factors--Janis E. Jacobs
• 6 Alcohol Use and Misuse: Prevention Strategies with Minors--William Hansen and Linda Dusenbury
• 7 Supply Side Approaches to Reducing Underage Drinking: An Assessment of the Scientific Evidence--Harold D. Holder
• 8 Effectiveness of Sanctions and Law Enforcement Practices Targeted at Underage Drinking Not...
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