Alcohol is a drug that can affect judgement, coordination and long-term health. We must change this attitude. We now know that children who begin drinking alcohol before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcoholism in adulthood than those children who do not begin consuming alcohol until the legal age of 21. There are other social and health consequences which make underage drinking such a serious public health problem. Adolescent drinking is associated with risky sexual behaviors that can lead to AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies.
Alcohol contributes to academic failure and dropping out of school.
In addition, underage drinkers are more likely to become perpetrators or victims of rape, assault, robbery, murder and other violent crimes. Young people need to know about alcohol poisoning. Alcohol is a depressant. Consuming it rapidly in large quantities can be fatal. Alcohol's impact on developing organs, the brain, and decision making make it a particularly dangerous substance for adolescents.