Myth Busters

Issue:
Many people, both youths and adults, believe underage drinking is not a problem in foreign countries where drinking is more ingrained in the culture or where youth alcohol laws, such as the minimum legal drinking age, are more lax than U.S. laws. What do students in your school think? What do the statistics show?

Statistics:

• A speech by Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General of the World Health Organization, quotes statistics about deaths related to underage drinking.
• From CNN.com: Alcohol named Europe's youth killer.
• From the British Medical Journal:

  Spain announces plan to ban drinking on the streets and alcohol sales to minors.
  WHO study examines teenage health in 28 counties.

Interview candidates:

• Conduct a poll of your fellow students about how underage drinking rates in the United States compare with other countries. You also could poll faculty members and parents.
• Interview youths and adults about how the poll results compared to the statistics. Did the statistics surprise them? Did it change their opinions about underage drinking?

© 2004 TooYoungToDrink.com and The Alliance Against Underage Drinking.