U.S. UNDERAGE DRINKERS SPEND BILLIONS ON ALCOHOL ANNUALLY

NEW YORK, May 1 — Underage drinkers spent $22.5 billion on alcohol in 2001, which amounted to 17.5% of total U.S. consumer spending on beer, wine and liquor that year, according to researches here.

U.S. public health officials should be concerned about this amount of underage drinking because those who start drinking young are more likely to become alcohol abusers later in life, said Susan E. Foster, M.S.W., and colleagues at Columbia University here.

Together, children and adolescents ages 12 to 20 and adults 21 and older spent a total of more than $128 billion on alcohol in 2001, the study found.

Less than half of individuals ages 12 to 20 (47%) reported drinking alcohol in the previous 30 days, compared with a little more than half (53%) of the adults. However, the proportion of problem drinkers in the younger group was much higher. Nearly 26% of the younger drinkers met the standard DSM IV diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence, compared with less than 10% of the adult drinkers, the researchers reported.

Almost all (97%) of the problem adult drinkers began drinking before the age of 21, the investigators noted.

"Projected into the future, this present pattern of illegal underage drinking and adult abusive and dependent drinking will realize at least one-half trillion dollars in cash revenues for the alcohol industry over the next decade-an extraordinary commercial motive to insure that such consumer behavior continues unabated," the authors said.

Individuals ages 12 to 20 are targeted especially hard by advertisements for alcohol. For example, this group is exposed to 45% more magazine advertisements for beer and 27% more magazine ads for distilled spirits than adults of legal drinking age. A similar pattern is found for radio and television ads, the authors said.

photo courtesy images.google.com & story courtesy medpagetoday.com, 05/01/06

²⁹Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? ³⁰It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks. ³¹Don't let the sparkle and smooth taste of wine deceive you. ³²For in the end it bites like a poisonous serpent; it stings like a viper. ³³You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things. ³⁴You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast. ³⁵And you will say, "They hit me, but I didn't feel it. I didn't even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can have another drink?"

In today's passage, Solomon shares his Godly wisdom on the use of alcohol.

WHY DO Y0U THINK MOST TEENAGERS DRINK?  DO YOU SEE MUCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HABITS OF CHRISTIAN AND NON-CHRISTIAN FRIENDS WHEN IT COMES TO DRINKING?  WHY?

Movies, TV, music and advertising all promote drinking as the way to experience fun, excitement, better romance, more sex, more friends, and "hot" or "cool" nights - whichever you prefer.

ACCORDING TO TODAY'S SCRIPTURE, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REAL CONSEQUENCES OF DRINKING?  (See if you can come up with seven.)

Remember, "Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life.  Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you."  (Ephesians 5:18)

If you have been able to say no to drinking, thank God for His strength.  If you've been struggling with drinking, ask God for strength and for the courage to talk to someone to help you and hold you accountable.  Pray right now for a friend or family member who is struggling with alcohol.

• If you've been struggling with drinking, talk to your youth leader or pastor.  If you don't have one, ask a Christian friend to help you find help.
• Every time you see a commercial about drinking, pray for the courage to say no to alcohol abuse and pray for the courage to help someone who is struggling.
• During these prom and graduation weekends, look for opportunities to be a positive influence for Christ on friends who are doing the party scene.
• Use today's Devo as a source for study in your youth group or small group.

Daily Devos is published Monday through Friday. Archives can be found at YFC.ORG.  Its purpose is to help you apply truths from God's Word every day.

Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been involved with Youth For Christ for 30 years. He's served as Campus Life Staff, as a writer, and in leadership for the DCLA Conferences. Byron is married to Linda and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, and a daughter in college.  He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.