Underage Drinking Drops 6 Percent in Last 11 Years, Study

A new study has revealed that underage drinking (including binge drinking) is less popular than before and that there has been a 6 percent drop between 2002 to 2013.

According to the results published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), underage drinking dropped from 28.8 percent in 2002 to 22.7 percent in 2013. With underage binge drinking, the numbers fell from 19 to 14 percent during the same period.

For the study, scientists gathered data on the drinking habits of 67,500 participants between the ages of 12 to 20.

"When parents communicate clear expectations and they are supported by community efforts to prevent underage drinking, we can make a difference," said Frances M. Harding, director of SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), in a press release.

 "However, there are still 8.7 million current underage drinkers, and 5.4 million current underage binge drinkers. This poses a serious risk not only to their health and to their future, but to the safety and well-being of others. We must do everything we can to prevent underage drinking and get treatment for young people who need it."

Although we are witnessing a declining trend in the use of alcohol with minors, it still continues to be the most used substance by kids between the 12-20 age group. This is even higher than minors who consume tobacco or illegal drugs.

However the regular campaigns being conducted by various organizations to prevent underage drinking is beginning to pay off. Today there are also harsher penalties for students who use fake identity cards.

"It doesn't surprise me this is going on," said James Fell, a senior research scientist at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, to USA Today. "The combination of all those laws and enforcement will deter underage people from drinking."