Alcohol use by young people is extremely dangerous — both to themselves and society at large. Underage alcohol use is associated with traffic fatalities, violence, unsafe sex, suicide, educational failure, and other problem behaviors that diminish the prospects of future success, as well as health risks — and the earlier teens start drinking, the greater the danger. Despite these serious concerns, the media continues to make drinking look attractive to youth, and it remains possible and even easy for teenagers to get access to alcohol. Why is this dangerous behavior so pervasive? What can be done to prevent it? What will work and who is responsible for making sure it happens? Reducing Underage Drinking addresses these questions and proposes a new way to combat underage alcohol use. It explores the ways in which may different individuals and groups contribute to the problem and how they can be enlisted to prevent it. Reducing Underage Drinking will serve as both a game plan and a call to arms for anyone with an investment in youth health and safety. Table of ContentsFront MatterExecutive Summary1. Introduction: The Challenge I. Underage Drinking in the United States - 2. Characteristics of Underage Drinking3. Consquences of Underage Drinking4. Understanding Youth DrinkingII. The Strategy - 5. Designing the Strategy6. National Media Campaign7. Alcohol Industry8. Entertainment Industries9. Access10. Youth-Oriented Interventions11. Communities12. Federal and State GovernmentsReferencesAppendix A: Statement of TaskAppendix B: Agenda and Participants, October 10-11, 2002, Public WorkshopAppendix C: Agenda and Participants, November 18, 2002, Open Committee Meeting and Public ForumAppendix D: Other Public ContributorsAppendix E: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and StaffIndex1 The Epidemiology of Underage Drinking in the United States: An Overview--Robert L. Flewelling, Mallie J. Paschall, and Christopher Ringwalt2 Social, Health, and Economic Consequences of Underage Drinking--Ralph Hingson and Donald Kenkel3 Health Consequences of Adolescent Alcohol Involvement--Sandra A. Brown and Susan F. Tapert4 Developmental and Environmental Influences on Underage Drinking: A General Overview--Bonnie L. Halpern-Felsher and Michael Biehl5 Perceptions of Risk and Social Judgments: Biases and Motivational Factors--Janis E. Jacobs6 Alcohol Use and Misuse: Prevention Strategies with Minors--William Hansen and Linda Dusenbury7 Supply Side Approaches to Reducing Underage Drinking: An Assessment of the Scientific Evidence--Harold D. Holder8 Effectiveness of Sanctions and Law Enforcement Practices Targeted at Underage Drinking Not Involving Operation of a Motor Vehicle--Thomas L. Hafemeister and Shelly L. Jackson9 The Effects of Price on Alcohol Use, Abuse, and Their Consequences--Frank J. Chaloupka10 Media Intervention Impact: Evidence and Promising Strategies--Charles Atkin11 Alcohol in the Media: Drinking Portrayals, Alcohol Advertising, and Alcohol Consumption Among Youth--Joel W. Grube12 Alcohol Advertising and Promotion--David Jernigan and James O’Hara13 Drinking and Coming of Age in a Cross-Cultural Perspective--Robin Room14 Preventing Underage Drinking in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities: Contexts, Epidemiology, and Culture--Douglas K. Novins, Paul Spicer, Janette Beals, and Spero M. Manson15 Teen Treatment: Addressing Alcohol Problems Among Adolescents--Rosalind Brannigan, Mathea Falco, Linda Dusenbury, and William B. Hansen16 Youth Smoking Prevention Policy: Lessons Learned and Continuing Challenges--Paula M. Lantz