Myth Alcohol isn’t as harmful as 

other drugs.

FACT Alcohol increases your risk for 

many deadly diseases, such as 

cancer. Drinking too much alcohol too 

quickly can lead to alcohol poisoning, which 

can kill you. 

Myth Drinking is a good way to 

loosen up at parties.

FACT Drinking is a dumb way to loosen 

up. It can make you act silly, 

say things you shouldn’t say, and do things 

you wouldn’t normally do (like get into 

fights or have sex).

Myth Drinking alcohol will make 

me cool.

FACT There’s nothing cool about 

stumbling around, passing out, 

or puking on yourself. Drinking alcohol also 

can cause bad breath and weight gain.

Myth All of the other kids drink 

alcohol. I need to drink to fit in.

FACT If you really want to fit in, 

stay sober. Most young people 

don’t drink alcohol. Research shows that 

more than 70 percent of youth aged 12 to 

20 haven’t had a drink in the past month.1

Myth I can sober up quickly by taking a 

cold shower or drinking coffee.

FACT On average, it takes 2 to 3 

hours for a single drink to leave 

the body. Nothing can speed up the 

process, including drinking coffee, taking a 

cold shower, or “walking it off.”

Myth Adults drink, so kids should 

be able to drink too.

FACT A young person’s brain and 

body are still growing. Drinking 

alcohol can cause learning problems or 

lead to adult alcoholism. People who begin 

drinking before age 15 are five times more 

likely to abuse or become dependent on 

alcohol than those who begin drinking 

after age 21.2

Myth Beer and wine are safer 

than liquor.

FACT Alcohol is alcohol ... it can 

cause you problems no matter 

how you consume it. One 12-ounce 

bottle of beer or a 5-ounce glass of wine 

(about a half-cup) has as much alcohol as 

a 1.5-ounce shot of liquor. Alcopops—

sweet drinks laced with malt liquor—often 

contain more alcohol than beer!

Myth I can drink alcohol and not have 

any problems.

FACT If you’re under 21, drinking 

alcohol is a big problem: It’s 

illegal. If caught, you may have to pay 

a fine, perform community service, or 

take alcohol awareness classes. Kids 

who drink also are more likely to get poor 

grades in school, and are at higher risk for 

being a crime victim.

1 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 

Results from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: 

Summary of National Findings, NSDUH Series H-41, HHS Publication 

No. (SMA) 11-4658. Rockville, MD: Center for Substance Abuse 

Prevention, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration, 2011. 

2 Ibid.
Underage

Drinking

Myths vs. Facts

You probably see 

and hear a lot 

about alcohol—

from TV, movies, 

music, and your 

friends. But 

what are the 

real facts about 

underage alcohol 

use? Inside are 

some common 

myths—and 

sobering facts—

about alcohol use:

Do you think you or 

a friend has an 

alcohol problem?

Don’t wait—get help. Talk to a 

parent, doctor, teacher, or anyone 

you trust. For information and 

referrals, call the SAMHSA National 

Helpline at 800–662–HELP (4357) 

(in English and en español). An online

substance abuse treatment locator 

is available at 

.

http://www.samhsa.

gov/treatment

Also, check out the federal portal 

of underage drinking prevention 

resources at 

 and the Too

Smart To Start website at 

toosmarttostart.samhsa.gov.

http://www.

stopalcoholabuse.gov

http://

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Substance Abuse Prevention

www.samhsa.gov

SMA 08-4299 

Printed 2008 

2012 Revision