According to a recent “Youth Access to Alcohol” survey, Americans feel underage drinking as a significant issue. More than 90% of those surveyed indicated a concern about underage drinking. There’s widespread support for preventive measures designed to reduce underage drinking.

One expert says “underage drinking is a vast problem with the grave consequences.” Nearly half of all teen automobile accidents involve alcohol and traffic crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers. As if that’s not enough, alcohol contributes to suicides, homicides, and fatal injuries. In addition, underage drinking is frequently a factor in sexual assaults and date rapes. These are serious issues that need to be resolved.

No less than 26 suggested underage drinking policies received various levels of support. Among the most highly supported policies are: restricted drinking on city streets, restricted drinking at parks, requiring server training, requiring bar owner training, restricting drinking on college campuses, and tip lines to report illegal sales or use of alcohol involving minors. Underage drinking policies with the least support are: banning happy hours, tax increases, and banning beer kegs sales tool individuals.

Several concerns regarding alcohol advertising were raised in the survey and more than half of the respondents favored restrictions on alcohol advertising targeted at underage drinkers. 70% opposed the use of the youth-oriented materials, such as cartoons, on packaging. Two-thirds supported completely wiping out liquor ads on TV & three out of five were in favor of banning the use of sports teams and athletes in marketing alcoholic beverages.

Women appear to be the group most supportive of implementing underage drinking policies. Male respondents as well as those aged 18 to 24 expressed lower levels of support for restrictive underage drinking policies. That comes as no surprise considering half of those aged 18 to 24 are themselves underage.

There was strong support for a “zero tolerance” alcohol policy for young drivers. Most respondents felt strongly that teenagers found driving with any amount of alcohol in their blood should be punished.

A majority of those surveyed (70%) believed stricter underage drinking policies would help curb the problem. The most widely supported punishment for underage drinkers was to deny eligibility for school loans, followed by a $500.00 fine, and community service. Suspension of the underage drinker’s driver’s license was the least popular punishment.

Survey respondents also believe that adults providing alcohol to minors is a major contributing factor to underage drinking. Nearly 90% of respondents support penalties for adults caught providing alcohol to underage drinkers.

Regardless of which policies are implemented to deter underage drinking it’s clear that something must be done. Too many lives are being ruined or ended because of underage drinking.