Alcohol Consumption By Youth in The United States - Alcohol Access By Minors

Alcohol Access By Minors

A survey of over 6000 teenagers revealed (1):

• Teenagers usually get their alcohol from persons 21 or older. The second most common source for high school students is someone else under age 21, and the second most common source for 18- to 20-year-olds is buying it from a store, bar or restaurant (despite the fact that such sales are against the law).
• In the 12th grade, boys were more likely than girls to buy alcohol from a store, bar or restaurant.
• The higher a teenager's weekly income, the more likely he/she will buy alcohol from a store, bar or restaurant.
• It is easy to get alcohol at a party and from siblings or others 21 or older.

How easy is it for youth to buy alcohol?

Young females attempted to buy beer without an ID at liquor, grocery or convenience stores:

• In 47–52% of the attempts, beer was sold. (1, 2)
• Nearly 80% of all the stores sold beer to the buyers at least once in three attempts; nearly 25% sold beer all three times.(1)

When young females attempted to buy beer without an ID at bars or restaurants, 50% of the attempts resulted in a sale to the buyer.(2)

When young males and females attempted to buy beer without an ID at community festivals, 50% of the attempts resulted in a sale to the buyer.(3)