ALCOHOL USE AND abuse can negatively affect a teen's health, put a strain on relationships with family and friends, and limit success in academics and employment. Teen alcohol use also plays a major role in teen crimes (such as theft, assault, and murder), teen suicides, and auto accidents.

In 1996 the Department of Health and Human Services reported that crime is a major consequence of youth drug and alcohol consumption. Nearly 40 percent of teens in correctional facilities, for example, reported drinking before committing a crime. More specifically, according to the Department of Justice, alcohol consumption is associated with over 27 percent of all murders, 31 percent of all rapes, 33 percent of all property offenses, and more than 37 percent of all robberies committed by young people. In addition to its association with teen crime against others, alcohol is often a factor in...