As we begin the journey around the sun for 2018, I believe it is a responsibility of all of us that are in the alcoholic beverage industry to redouble our efforts to fight the problems of underage drinking. Whether as a bartender by more carefully checking ID's or as a teacher or parent helping to educate our youth about the perils of under age drinking. If we all redouble our efforts, we can save a lot of youthful and vibrant young people's lives.
The short- and long-term consequences that
arise from underage alcohol consumption are astonishing in their range and
magnitude, the people around them, and society as a whole. Adolescence is a time of life characterized
by robust physical health and low incidence of disease, yet overall morbidity
and mortality rates increase 200 percent between middle childhood and late
adolescence/early adulthood This
dramatic rise is attributable in large part to the increase in risk-taking,
sensation-seeking, and erratic behavior that follows the onset of puberty and
which contributes to violence, unintentional injuries, risky sexual behavior,
homicide, and suicide.
Alcohol frequently plays a role in these
adverse outcomes and the human tragedies they produce. Among the most prominent
adverse consequences of underage alcohol use are those listed below. Annually, about 5,000 people under age 21 die
from alcohol-related injuries involving underage drinking.
The most recent data from the
government-led Monitoring the Future study
shows “no significant changes” in alcohol consumption among teens in 2017
compared to the previous year. The
authors of the study wrote: “These are dramatic declines for such a culturally
ingrained behavior and good news to many parents.”
Dr Sam Zakhari, senior vice president of science of the
Distilled Spirits Council, said: “Key to further declines is educating parents
and other adults about the seriousness of providing alcohol to teens.”
The Distilled Spirits
Council praised the distilled spirits sector’s role in combating underage
drinking through programs such as the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility
and support for the Federal Trade Commission’s We Don’t Serve Teens initiative.
