Underage drinking is when anyone under the minimum legal drinking age of 21 drinks alcohol.
Underage drinking is a risk that attracts many developing adolescents and teens. When young people try alcohol, they often don’t realize the damaging effects drinking can have on their own lives, their families, and their communities.
Aside from being illegal, underage drinking is a widespread public health problem that poses many risks. 
Here’s why:
Underage drinking is widespread
  • In 2009, about 10.4 million young people between ages 12 and 20 drank more than “just a few sips” of alcohol.
  • As kids get older, they drink more.  By age 15, half of teens have had at least one drink. By age 18, more than 70% of teens have had at least one drink.
Young people drink a lot
  • Young people drink less often than adults, but when they do drink, they drink more than adults.
  • On average, young people have about 5 drinks on a single occasion, which can be considered binge drinking.