40% of Underage Drinkers Received Free Alcohol from Adults

A new federal report reveals that more than 40 percent of the nation's estimated 10.8 million underage drinkers obtained their alcohol from adults of legal drinking age – including their own parents. For coalition leaders, the finding are nothing new. That is why, in many communities, social host laws have been passed to stop parents from supplying alcohol to their kids.

Gwen Brown, from the Genesis Prevention Coalition in Atlanta, Ga., said the findings are not surprising. "Drinking is such a part of our culture that parents think it's okay that their teens drink," she said. "They tend to believe that it's better to serve alcohol at home to their kids, than have them go to an establishment to drink alcohol, without realizing the type of behavior that it's enforcing."

In Nebraska, local community leaders helped pass a social host ordinance in the state. The ordinance holds parent liable for serving alcohol to underage youth in their homes. That, coupled with a campaign launched around prom and graduation season, dubbed "Create Memories, Not Regrets. Celebrate Sober," is helping to educate the community about the risks of serving alcohol to underage youth.

"Parents often believe that it's okay if their teens drink while at home under their supervision. They don't realize that they're sending mixed messages. That's just telling the kid that it's okay to drink," said Amber Berliner, Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator of Community Connections.

Underage Alcohol Use: Findings from the 2002-2006 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health.