10 Reasons Why You Should Help Prevent Underage Drinking
Youth who drink are more likely to experience:
- School problems, such as higher rates of absences or lower grades
- Social problems, such as fighting or lack of participation in youth activities
- Physical problems, such as hangovers or illnesses
- Unwanted, unplanned, and unprotected sexual activity
- Physical and sexual violence
- Increased risk of suicide and homicide
- Alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes and other unintentional injuries, such as burns, falls, or drowning
- Memory problems
- Misuse of other substances
- Changes in brain development that may have life-long effects
In addition, early initiation of drinking is associated with development of an alcohol use disorder later in life.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
