The consumption of alcohol by underage youth in America constitutes a public health problem with serious social and economic costs and often tragic personal consequences. Alcohol is the most widely used substance of abuse among America's youth. Over 4 million of our young people ages 12-17 (18%) report drinking monthly with more than half engaging in high-risk drinking patterns. Approximately 50% of young people have had a full drink by the 8th grade. By high school graduation, this number rises to approximately 75%. The amount of alcohol consumed also increases dramatically between the ages of 12 and 20, as measured by binge drinking (typically consuming 5 or more drinks per occasion) and the frequency of binge drinking.
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