We tell kids in school one message, and then send them back into the same environment that has always encouraged them to drink alcohol. One step towards creating communities that do not encourage young people to drink is to reduce the flow of alcohol to youth. The most popular sources of alcohol for all age groups are social providers over age 21. However, the older youth are, the more likely they are to buy alcohol themselves from commercial establishments. 6 Young people can easily purchase alcohol throughout Minnesota without showing any age identification.
Young people can buy alcohol in nearly one out of every two tries.
7,8 Many underage people obtain alcohol at drinking parties where one or two youth obtain large quantities of alcohol, often in kegs. Make adults accountable for their behavior. Change and enforce community policies. Few communities ask where young people are getting the alcohol. Few communities enforce the law and hold adults responsible for illegally selling or giving alcohol to underage people.