drinking from TV, movies, music and even
your friends...but what are the real
facts about underage drinking? Check
out these common myths and facts
about alcohol use, and use them to help
you make smart and safe choices!
Alcohol use among
youth under the age
of 21 is a major
health problem.
Alcohol is the
most commonly
used and abused
drug among youth
in the United
States.
Alcohol is
responsible for
more than
4,300 annual
deaths among
underage youth.
Myth
“Alcohol isn’t as dangerous as
other drugs.”
FACT: Alcohol is alcohol and it can
cause problems no matter how you
consume it. In fact, some beers and
wines contain more alcohol than
some liquors.
Fact: Alcohol increases you risk
for deadly diseases like cancer.
Drinking too much alcohol can
lead to alcohol poisoning, which
can kill you.
Myth
“Drinking is a good way to loosen up at
parties.”
Fact: Drinking impairs your
decision making skills and can
cause you to act silly, say things you
shouldn’t, or do things you
wouldn’t usually do, like get into
fights or have sex.
Myth
“Everyone else drinks. Drinking will
make me cool.”
FACT: Most young people don’t
drink & stumbling around, passing
out or puking on yourself isn’t cool.
Drinking alcohol can also cause
bad breath and weight gain.
Myth
“Adults drink, kids should be able to
drink too.”
FACT: A young person’s brain and
body are still growing, and drinking
can lead to learning issues and
alcohol addiction.
Myth
“I can drink alcohol and not have any
problems.”
FACT: If you’re under 21, drinking is
a big problem; it’s illegal and if
caught, you can get into big trouble.
Kids who drink are also more likely
to get poor grades and are at higher
risk for being a crime victim.
SOURCES
You probably see and hear a lot about
The Myths vs. The FACTS
Myth
“Beer and wine are safer than liquor.”
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration. Underage Drinking: Myths vs. Facts.
N.p. n.d. SAMHSA. U.S. Department of Health &
Human Services, Jan. 2008. Web. Aug. 2015.
"Underage Drinking." Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 31 Oct. 2014. Web. 20 Aug. 2015.
Do you think you or a
friend has an
alcohol problem?
Don’t wait. Get help! Talk to a
Underage
Drinking
parent, doctor, teacher or anyone
you trust. Drinking alcohol under
90% of the alcohol used by underage
youth is consumed in the form of
binge drinking; a dangerous method
of consuming large amounts of
alcohol in a short time frame.
the age of 21 is dangerous and
illegal. Make your own fun by
making the right decision not to
drink under age.
For help, call:
Freedom House Recovery Center
On average, underage drinkers
consume more drinks per drinking
occasion than adult drinkers.
Hospitalization for underage drinking
costs an estimated $755 million in the
United States each year.
Myths
vs.
FACTS
(336) 599-8366
Cardinal Innovations Healthcare
800-939-5911
Adapted from SAMHSA
Underage Drinking: Myths vs. Facts
Nia A. Sutton
Public Health Educator/Healthy Personians Member
Person County Health Department
(336) 597-2204 x 2263
Produced by:
Healthy Personians
Advisory Board
Substance Abuse Committee