The full Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives has postponed voting on including underage drinking prevention messages in the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign until after June 8th . Two-thirds of all children who drink by the age of fifteen go on to try other drugs. Children who drink are 50 times more likely to end up using crack cocaine than are children who don't drink.
Alcohol is also the most widely used and most devastating drug for children.
Alcohol is a factor in the three leading causes of death for people age 16 to 24. The argument is based on the assumption that underage drinking is a separate problem from underage drug use. David Rehr of the National Beer Wholesalers Association also claims that the alcohol industry is best suited to formulate and distribute an anti-underage drinking message. Rehr's organization is apparently telling local beer wholesalers that this proposal would require an advertising campaign against all drinking, not just against underage drinking. Both of these messages are designed to confuse, mislead and panic members of congress.