Youth and Alcohol

In response to public health concerns and the adverse health consequences of alcohol abuse, Surgeon General Antonia Novello requested that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) survey youth to determine their views and practices regarding alcohol use. These concerns mirror one of Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Louis Sullivan's goals which is to reduce the prevalence of alcohol problems among children and youth. The Surgeon General is particularly concerned about the drinking, habits of youth, especially the nation's 20.7 million 7th through 12th graders. This report is one in a series prepared by the OIG related to youth and alcohol. It describes survey findings relating to youth perceptions, knowledge, opinions, and drinking habits and is based on structured interviews conducted with a random national sample of junior and senior high school students.