?

Q&A
Q. IS IT REALLY UNSAFE TO DRINK UNTIL I’M 21?

A. YES. The risks of underage drinking are high.

Research suggests that drinking during
the teen years could interfere with normal
brain development and increase the risk of
developing an alcohol use disorder later in life.5

Q. WHY DO MY FRIENDS DRINK ALCOHOL IF IT IS

UNSAFE?

A.
UNDERAGE DRINKING Many teens experience peer pressure to drink
alcohol, and some are looking for a way to cope
with stress; however, underage drinking will
result in more problems—not fewer. In 2021,
about 3.2 million young people aged 12 to 20
were past month binge drinkers (for males, 5 or
THE TRUTH ABOUT more drinks, and for females, 4 or more drinks

UNDERAGE DRINKING on the same occasion).6

Q. MY PARENTS USED TO DRINK WHEN THEY

WERE UNDERAGE. WHY CAN’T I?

GET THE FACTS A. Minimum drinking age laws exist for a reason—
they help keep everyone safer. After states
increased the legal drinking age to 21, there
were fewer car crashes. Also, drinking during
the previous month for 18- to 20-year-olds
UNDERAGE DRINKING IS DANGEROUS. Drinking alcohol can declined after all states adopted a minimum
result in poor decision making which can make you less aware legal drinking age of 21, from 59 percent in 1985
of your actions and unable to recognize potential danger. to 40 percent in 1991. 7
Drinking may also lead to impaired motor coordination, placing
you at a greater risk of being injured from falls or vehicle THE BOTTOM LINE:
crashes. While intoxicated, you are more likely to engage in Underage drinking is dangerous and can be deadly. Talk to
unsafe behavior, including drinking and driving, unprotected sex, your parents, a doctor, a counselor, a teacher, or another
and aggressive or violent actions.1 adult you trust if you have questions.

UNDERAGE DRINKING CAN BE FATAL. When a person has an LEARN MORE:

alcohol overdose, their breathing and heart rate slows down to Get the latest information on how underage drinking
dangerous levels. Symptoms include confusion, being affects the brain and body at teens.drugabuse.gov.
unconscious, vomiting, seizures, and trouble breathing.
Overdosing on alcohol can lead to permanent brain damage or TO LEARN MORE ABOUT UNDERAGE DRINKING
death. In addition, driving after drinking alcohol can lead to PREVENTION, CONTACT:
vehicle accidents and deaths.2 SAMHSA
1–877–SAMHSA–7 (1–877–726–4727) (English and Español)
UNDERAGE DRINKING CAN LEAD TO AN ALCOHOL USE DISORDER. TTY 1–800–487–4889
When someone is unable to stop or control their alcohol use—even
when facing serious health, social, or academic consequences— www.samhsa.gov | store.samhsa.gov
they have an alcohol use disorder that requires treatment.
Attending individual or group counseling sessions and/or talking to
their doctor about ways to reduce alcohol cravings can help.3,4
 KNOW THE SIGNS
How can you tell if a friend is using alcohol? Potential side effects
and symptoms include:12
1 • Changes in mood, including anger and irritability
KNOW THE LAW. The minimum drinking age in the • Academic and/or behavioral problems in school
United States is 21. Having a national minimum drinking • Changing groups of friends
age saves lives and improves health. There is even • Less interest in activities and/or care in appearance
evidence that the law protects people from other drug
dependence and suicide.8

2 WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP

KNOW THE RISKS. Underage drinking contributes to SOMEONE WHO IS USING ALCOHOL?
more than 3,900 deaths among people below the age of
21 in the U.S. each year.9 Drinking under age 21 is also BE A FRIEND. SAVE A LIFE.
strongly linked with death from alcohol poisoning.10 Encourage your friend to stop drinking or seek help from a parent,
teacher, or other caring adult.
3 For 24/7 free and confidential information and
LOOK AROUND YOU. Although alcohol is the most treatment referrals in English and Español,
commonly used substance by teens, most teens call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at:
don’t drink. Teens’ alcohol use continues to drop.
From 2001 to 2022, past year alcohol use by 1–800–662–HELP (1–800–662–4357)
12th graders decreased from 73 percent to or visit the SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator
52 percent.11 at: findtreatment.samhsa.gov

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT UNDERAGE DRINKING

PREVENTION, CONTACT:
SAMHSA
1–877–SAMHSA–7 (1–877–726–4727)
(English and Español)
TTY 1–800–487–4889
MORE INFORMATION www.samhsa.gov | store.samhsa.gov

1 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), SAMHSA. (2022). The 2021 Report to Congress on the
Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking. Retrieved from https://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/about-
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR FOR iccpud/data/national-reports/report-to-congress/default.aspx

RESOURCES USED IN THIS 2 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). (2023). Understanding the Dangers of Alcohol

Overdose. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-dangers-of-

“TIPS for TEENS,”

alcohol-overdose
3National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). (2023). Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder.
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-alcohol-use-disorder
visit store.samhsa.gov or call 4,12 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). (2023). Get the Facts About Underage

1–877–SAMHSA–7 (1–877–726–4727) Drinking. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/underage-drinking

5 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). (2023). Alcohol and the Adolescent Brain.

(English and Español). https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/alcohol-and-adolescent-brain

6 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Key substance use and mental health
PEP23-03-03-001 | UPDATED 2023
indicators in the United States: Results from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS
Publication No. PEP22-07-01-005, NSDUH Series H-57). Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality,
SAMHSA complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2021-
on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
nsduh-annual-national-report
SAMHSA cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina 7,8,10 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). Age 21 Minimum Legal Drinking Age.
por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/minimum-legal-drinking-age.htm
9 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). Underage Drinking. https://www.cdc.gov/
alcohol/fact-sheets/underage-drinking.htm
11 Miech, R. A., Johnston, L. D., Patrick, M. E., O’Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., & Schulenberg, J.E. (2023).
Monitoring the Future National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975–2022: Secondary School Students. Ann
Arbor: Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan. http://monitoringthefuture.org/results/
publications/monographs/