To view the methodology used for the Cost Analysis click here.

Tragic health, social, and economic problems result from the use of alcohol by youth. Underage drinking is a causal factor in a host of serious problems, including homicide, suicide, traumatic injury, drowning, burns, violent and property crime, high risk sex, fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol poisoning, and need for treatment for alcohol abuse and dependence.

Problems and Costs Associated with Underage Drinking in the United States

Underage drinking cost the citizens of The United States $68.0 billion in 2007. These costs include medical care, work loss, and pain and suffering associated with the multiple problems resulting from the use of alcohol by youth.¹ This translates to a cost of $2,280 per year for each youth in the State. Excluding pain and suffering from these costs, the direct costs of underage drinking incurred through medical care and loss of work cost the United States $22.3 billion each year.

Youth violence (homicide, suicide, aggravated assault) and traffic crashes attributable to alcohol use by underage youth in the United States represent the largest costs for the State.  However, a host of other problems contribute substantially to the overall cost.  Among teen mothers, fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) alone costs the United States $1,227 million. 

Costs of Underage Drinking by Problem, the United States 2007

 Young people who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence and are two and a half times more likely to become abusers of alcohol than those who begin drinking at age 21.²  In 2007, 62,461 youth 12- 20 years old were admitted for alcohol treatment in the United States, accounting for 9% of all treatment admissions for alcohol abuse in the country.³

Alcohol Consumption by Youth in the United States

Underage drinking is widespread in the United States.  Approximately 13,334,000 underage youth in The United States drink each year.  In 2007, according to self-reports by United States students in grades 9-12:⁴

• 75% had at least one drink of alcohol on one or more days during their life.
• 24% had their first drink of alcohol, other than a few sips, before age 13.
• 45% had at least one drink of alcohol on one or more occasion in the past 30 days.
• 26% had five or more drinks of alcohol in a row (i.e. binge drinking) in the past 30 days.
• 4% had at least one drink of alcohol on school property on one or more of the past 30 days.

In 2007, underage drinkers consumed 14.5% of all alcohol sold in the United States, totaling $24.2 billion in sales.  These sales provided profits of $11.9 billion to the alcohol industry.¹

Harm Associated with Underage Drinking in the United States

Underage drinking in the United States leads to substantial harm due to traffic crashes, violent crime, property crime, unintentional injury, and risky sex.

• During 2007, an estimated 1,988 traffic fatalities and 48,800 nonfatal traffic injuries involved an underage drinking driver.
• In 2006, an estimated 2,099 homicides; 989,100 nonfatal violent crimes such as rape, robbery and assault; and 1,919,900 property crimes including burglary, larceny, and car theft involved an underage drinking perpetrator.
• In 2006, an estimated 371 alcohol involved fatal burns, drownings, and suicides involved underage drinking.
• In 2006, an estimated 158,600 teen pregnancies and 730,500 risky sexual acts by teens involved alcohol.

Total underage drinking costs $68.0 billion