Alcohol: Our Kids' Drug of Choice
Alcohol is the most commonly used drug among America's youth. More young people drink alcohol than smoke tobacco or use marijuana. — National Research Council / Institute of Medicine, 2004
• Each day, more than 7,000 kids in the United States under age 16 take their first drink.
• 1 in 5 eighth-graders is a current drinker.
• 1 in 5 youth, ages 12 to 20, binge drinks (5 or more drinks on one occasion).
• Most kids drink to get drunk: more than 90% of the alcohol consumed by 12- to 20-year-olds is drunk when they are bingeing.