Summer Safety: How Alcohol Impacts Young People

Did you know underage drinking often takes place in the summer?  

Summer months bring vacations, parties and time with friends. During this time of year, it is important to be aware of how alcohol can impact young people.

How Alcohol Affects Young People 

Many young people in North Carolina have access to alcohol and drink before they turn 21. 

In 2023, one in five high school students in North Carolina said they drank alcohol. That’s about 117,000 students. Some of these students also report having their first drink of alcohol as early as 13 years old. The number of high school students who had their first drink before age 13 increased 13% over six years. 

Early alcohol use among young people has grown, leading to more alcohol-related harm. 

In a six-year span in North Carolina:

• Emergency department visits for underage alcohol poisoning increased 31% 
• Underage alcohol-related deaths increased 24%  

Keep reading to learn how to best educate our young people about the risks of underage drinking.

Flavored Alcohol Beverages: The Risk to Underage Drinkers

A new trend in underage drinking is the rising popularity of flavored alcohol beverages (FABs).  

Examples of FABs are: 

• Malt beverages (e.g. Smirnoff Ice, Mike’s Hard Lemonade) 
• Spirit-, premixed- or ready-to-drink cocktails (e.g. Cutwater, BuzzBallz, BeatBox) 
• Supersized alcopops (e.g. Four Loko) 

Some FABs can contain enough alcohol to equal two or more standard drinks.

A 23.5-ounce supersized alcopop with 12% ABV is equal to five drinks. For comparison, a 12-ounce premium cocktail with 9% ABV is equal to two drinks.

FABs have lower prices and sweet flavors that can be appealing for young people.

Consuming FABs underage increases the risk for poor health outcomes and behavioral problems.

Dangers of Underage Drinking 

No amount of alcohol is safe, regardless of age. For people under 21, there are more risks. 

The earlier a person starts drinking, the higher their risk of health and behavioral problems later on. Young people who start drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to become addicted to alcohol. 

Other important risks to discuss with your child are: 

• Cancer — alcohol is proven to cause cancer, just like tobacco, asbestos and radiation 
• Chronic disease — such as high blood pressure, heart disease and liver disease 
• Mental health — alcohol use can change young brains and worsen depression or anxiety 
• Violence — young people who drink under 21 are more likely to engage in fighting, domestic violence and sexual violence in the future 
• Injury — underage drinking alters judgement and can lead to car crashes, overdoses and falls

North Carolina’s Alcohol Environment 

North Carolina regulates how alcohol is sold and distributed. This means the government helps decide where and how alcohol is sold.

This helps: 

• Limit the number of places that sell alcohol 
• Keep drinking levels lower than in states with private alcohol sales 
• Reduce alcohol-related harm 

Research suggests how alcohol is sold can influence access, consumption and health outcomes. States that manage how alcohol is sold may have lower instances of young people drinking. Managing where, how and the type of alcohol sold helps protect youth and makes communities safer.

Read more: How alcohol affects our health and communities

Resources for Parents and Young People

• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s Drink Size Calculator - Understanding a “standard U.S. drink” size and the number of drinks per serving can help lead to better drinking decisions.
• Talk it Out NC: Support for Parents and Mentors – Resource for parents and guardians to start the conversation around underage drinking prevention.
• Talk it Out NC: How to Avoid Underage Drinking – Resource for young adults, teens and children on how to avoid underage drinking.
• Talk it Up, Lock it Up – a North Carolina Preventing Underage Drinking Initiative that encourages parents to talk with their children about underage drinking.

Resources for Partners and Communities 

• North Carolina Alcohol and Related Harms Data page – Learn more about alcohol use and its impact in NC.
• North Carolina Alcohol Use and Related Harms Prevention page – Learn about alcohol-related harm and prevention efforts in NC.