An August 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health report, which was conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, looked at the places where underage drinkers choose to consume alcohol. According to this report, 25% of underage drinkers, which they defined as ages 12 to 20, consumed alcohol. About 20% of the group that were both current drinkers and of legal driving age (18 to 20) elected to drive while under the influence of alcohol. Some of the locations that the study considered were:

• The adolescent’s own home

• Someone else’s home

• A car or other vehicle

• Parking lot, park, or beach

• Restaurant, bar, or club

The most common place for adolescents to drink (where 53.4% would drink) was in the home of someone else. The second most common place was the adolescent’s own home, with 30.3% consuming alcohol here. The rate of consumption in the other locations – cars or other vehicles; restaurants, bars, or clubs; and parking lots, parks, or beaches – varied based on a number of factors including age and gender.

Males vs. Females

Gender considerations produced some interesting results. For example, 16 year-old females were almost 8 times more likely to consume alcohol in a car than females 4 years older. Young females (about age 15) were also 2 times more likely than their male counterparts to engage in public drinking. Additionally, as they approach drinking age, females are increasingly more likely to have consumed their last drink in a restaurant, bar, or club (20% for females and 10.2% for males).

Living Situation

When they turn 18, young people have the opportunity to begin living independently; for many, this takes the form of college. For the general group of 18- to 20-year-olds (not necessarily those in college), those who lived with a parent, grandparent, or parent-like guardian were more likely to consume alcoholic beverages at someone else’s home than those whose living situation was different.

Why was the report conducted?
By determining where young people drink, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration hoped to raise awareness in parents. With greater knowledge about where this occurs, parents can more closely monitored their children’s behavior and have more focused discussions about the locations and social situations in which underage drinking is most likely to happen. Additionally, parent’s can counsel their children on other dangers related to illicit alcohol use such as:

• Car accidents that occur from driving under the influence

• Increased chance of engaging in sexual intercourse

• Increased risk of having multiple sex partners