Consequences of underage drinking

Share with your teen some facts about the dangers of teen alcohol use. Underage drinking can lead to:

• Alcohol-related fatalities. Alcohol-related traffic crashes are a leading cause of teen deaths. Teen drownings, suicides and murders also have been linked with alcohol use.
• Sexual activity. Teens who drink tend to become sexually active earlier and have sex more often than do teens who don't drink. Teens who drink are also more likely to have unprotected sex than are teens who don't drink.
• School problems. Teens who drink tend to have more academic and conduct problems than do teens who don't drink.
• Alcoholism. People who begin drinking as young teens are more likely to develop alcohol dependence than are people who wait until they're adults to drink. Adolescent binge drinking also can increase the risk of alcohol addiction later in life.
• Violent crime. Teens who drink are more likely to be hurt in a violent crime, such as rape, assault or robbery.