Research
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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 41,059 people died in traffic crashes in 2007 in the United States (latest figures available), including an estimated 12,998 people who died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. Drunk driving fatalities accounted for 32% of all traffic deaths last year, that is, on average someone is killed in an alcohol-impaired driving crash every 40 minutes in the U.S. (Source: NHTSA/FARS, 2008)
Since NHTSA began recording alcohol-related statistics in 1982, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities have decreased 38% from 21,113 in 1982. Since the inception of The Century Council and our national efforts to fight drunk driving, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities have declined 18% from 15,827 in 1991. (Source: NHTSA/FARS, 2008)
The rate of alcohol-impaired fatalities per 100,000 population is the number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities for every 100,000 persons in the population being measured. In 2007, about four people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities for every 100,000 Americans. Since 1997, the rate of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in the U.S. has decreased 10%. Between 1991 and 2007, the rate of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities per 100,000 population decreased 32% nationally. (Source: NHTSA/FARS, 2008)
Download our 2007 State of Drunk Driving Fatalities in America summary.
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Since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began recording alcohol-related statistics in 1982, among youth under 21, the number of youths killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes decreased 65% from the record high of 5,215 in 1982 to 1,840 in 2007. (View the Under 21 Alcohol-Impaired Driving Fatalities chart) These fatalities account for 14% of the alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in the U.S. (Source: NHTSA/FARS, 2008)
Among those under 21, two youths are killed in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities for every 100,000 American under the age of 21. The rate of youth under 21 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities per 100,000 population has declined 22% over the past decade. (Source: NHTSA/FARS, 2008)
Despite declines in the number of young people involved in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities, 5 youths die each day in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. (Source: NHTSA/FARS, 2008)
Download our 2007 State of Drunk Driving Fatalities in America summary.
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Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities refer to those crashes involving a driver with a BAC of .08 or higher, whereas alcohol-related traffic fatalities refer to those crashes that involve at least one driver, pedestrian, or cyclist with a BAC of .01 or higher. In 2007, an estimated 17,036 people were killed in alcohol-related traffic fatalities – a decline of 4% from the 17,738 fatalities in 2006. Alcohol-related traffic fatalities account for nearly 42% of the fatalities on our nation’s roadways. (Source: NHTSA/FARS, 2008)
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Hardcore drunk drivers, those who drive at high BAC's (0.15 or above), do so repeatedly as demonstrated by having more than one drunk driving arrest, and are highly resistant to changing their behavior despite previous sanctions, treatment or education, continue to account for a disproportionate share of alcohol-related traffic fatalities each year. In 2007, 67% of drivers involved in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities had a a BAC level of .15 or higher – a trend that has remained relatively unchanged for more than a decade. (Source: NHTSA/FARS, 2008) Three percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2007 had a prior DWI conviction within the past three years. Furthermore, 46% of drivers involved in a fatal crash with a prior DWI conviction in the past three years had a BAC level of 0.15 or higher. (Source: NHTSA/FARS, 2008)
The median BAC level remains twice the legal limit at 0.16, and drivers with a BAC level of .15 or higher in fatal crashes were nine times more likely to have a prior conviction for driving while impaired than drivers with no alcohol. (Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts "Alcohol-Impaired Driving," 2008) Compared with drivers who have not consumed alcohol, drivers with BACs of .15 or above are 380 times more likely to be involved in a single-vehicle fatal crash than a non-drinking driver. (Source: Zador, P.L. Alcohol related relative risk of fatal driver injuries in relation to driver age and sex. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 52(4):302-310, 1991.) Download our 2007 report, Stopping Hardcore Drunk Driving: Offenders' Perspective on Deterrence.
All of these national statistics and others are positive indicators of the gains being made to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, drunk driving, and while we cannot claim to be the sole influence in these reductions, it is likely we have played a significant role.
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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 13 million licensed drivers between 15 and 20 years of age in the United States in 2006 (latest available data), an increase of more than 7 percent in the number of young drivers over the past 10 years. Unfortunately, motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for 15- to 20-year olds. (Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts “Young Drivers,” 2008)
In 2007, 13 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes were young drivers age 15 to 20 years old. More specifically, 6,982 15- to 20-year old drivers were involved in fatal crashes, including 3,174 driver fatalities. Among 15- to 20-year old drivers involved in fatal crashes, 31% of the drivers who were killed had been drinking and 26% who were killed in crashes had a BAC of .08 or higher. Furthermore, nearly two percent of these young drivers involved in a fatal crash had a previous DWI conviction. (Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts “Young Drivers,” 2008)
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Among 12-20 year olds, approximately 7.2 million (19%) reported having engaged in binge drinking and 2.3 million (6%) in heavy drinking. Among 12-20 year olds, the rates of binge drinking and heavy drinking reported in the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health have remained unchanged from the estimates reported in the 2002 survey.
According to the 2008 Monitoring the Future Study, reported incidents of binge drinking, that is having five or more drinks in a row in the last two weeks, declined among 8th graders, 10th graders, and high school seniors. The one-year decline among 10th graders was statistically significant decreasing nearly four percent from 19.6 in 2007 to 16.0 in 2008.
The 2007 Monitoring the Future Study reported new data collected for the past three years (2005–2007) in response to the growing concerns about extreme binge drinking among college students and their non-college peers. While it is not possible to determine if this type of consumption has changed over time, according to the Monitoring the Future Study, it is clear that in 2007 it is high among both college students and their non-college peers. The survey data revealed one in eight college students (13%) reported having 10 or more drinks in a row at least once in the prior two weeks, and 5% (or 1 in 20) reported 15 or more drinks in a row. By comparison, their non-college peers had about the same rates (14% and 7%, respectively). (Source: NIDA, Monitoring the Future, 1975-2007: Volume I, Secondary School Students, 2008)
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Despite the fact that it is illegal for most college students to purchase alcoholic beverages, experience with and consumption of alcohol is widespread among this audience. According to the 2007 Monitoring the Future Study 83% of college students have tried alcohol at least once in their lifetime and 72% report they have been drunk. More important, perhaps, is the occurrence of binge drinking – 41% of college students report having consumed five or more drinks in a row at least once in the two-weeks prior to completing the survey.
Trends in alcohol consumption among college students are quite different in relation to that of 12th graders. College students continue to show considerably less decline in their prevalence of alcohol use than other age groups – from 1991 to 2007 monthly alcohol use has declined 11 percent and binge drinking among college students has declined even less over this same period of time - since 1991 binge drinking among college students declined 4% from 43% to 41% in 2007. (View College Students Binge Drinking chart.) (Source: University of Michigan, Monitoring the Future, 2008)
By comparison, 44% of college students reported in the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health that they had engaged in binge drinking, and 17% reported episodes of heavy drinking, that is, binge drinking on five or more occasions in the past month. New data available for the first time from the 2007 Monitoring the Future Study revealed 13% of college students reported they have consumed 10 or more drinks in a row at least once in the past two weeks and 5% reported consuming 15 or more drinks in a row. (Source: NIDA, Monitoring the Future, 1975-2007: Volume I, Secondary School Students, 2008)
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An overwhelming majority (90%) of American teens report that drinking is not worth the consequences it can cause. Teen girls ages 15 to 17 are significantly more likely than their male peers to report drinking is not worth the consequences it can cause (97% and 88%, respectively). (Source: TCC, Opinion Research Corp, Caravan, February 2008)
When asked what worries them the most about drinking alcohol, 39% of teens report getting in trouble with the law as their top worry trailing as their second leading worry is getting suspended or expelled from school (14%). (Source: TCC, Opinion Research Corp, Caravan, February 2008) Consistently, teens report if they were caught drinking, the foremost punishment that would stop or keep them from doing it again would be getting in trouble with the police/law (68% cite this punishment), followed by getting in trouble or suspended from school (55%). A cluster of punishments round out the top ten that are effective in stopping or keeping kids from drinking alcohol – getting suspended or kicked off the team/club (44%), getting grounded (42%), losing computer/Internet/IM (or Internet chat room) privileges (42%), getting kicked out of the house (41%), getting yelled at (37%), losing allowance (33%), and losing driving privileges (32%). (View Punishments for Underage Drinking chart.) (Source: The Century Council, TRU, Omnibuzz May 2003)
Nearly four out of five youth report they are not likely to continue to drink given the threat of punishment if caught drinking – a majority (52%) said the threat of punishment would deter them enough that they would definitely not continue to drink and 25% said they would probably not continue to drink. (Source: The Century Council, TRU, Omnibuzz May 2003)
Unfortunately, the threat of punishment if caught drinking alcohol diminishes with age: 87% of 12 year olds say they would definitely not continue to drink, while only 50% of 13-15 year olds and 46% of 16-18 year olds are likely not to drink given the threat of punishment. However, the threat of punishment does resonant with today’s youth, as only 4% overall report they would definitely continue to drink. (View Threat of Punishment for Underage Drinking chart.) (Source: The Century Council, TRU, Omnibuzz May 2003)
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According to the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health nearly 8.5 million 12-20 year old girls reported consuming alcohol in the past year. In 2007, more males than females aged 12 to 20 reported binge drinking (21% v. 16%, respectively) and heavy drinking (8% v. 4%). However, rates of current past month alcohol consumption were almost equal between the two genders (28% for males and 27% for females.) Furthermore, among 12- to 17-year olds, the percentage of males and females who report drinking in the past month is now equal (16%) after several years of females reporting slightly higher rates. Overall, past month consumption among 12- to 17-year old males and females has been declining. (Source: SAMHSA, 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2008)
Among college students long-established and large gender differences exist in the prevalence of binge drinking. According to the 2007 Monitoring the Future Study 49% of college males report having consumed five or more drinks in a row during the previous two weeks compared with 36% of their female peers. This gender difference has narrowed gradually with males showing a slight decline and female rates increasing since the beginning of this study.
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When a person drinks alcohol, it affects almost every part of their body. Beverage alcohol (i.e., ethanol) can change brain chemistry and become lethal in high doses. Ethanol is metabolized in the liver at a rate of approximately one drink per hour, with wide variation depending on conditions, including weight, gender, and food.
More specifically, after alcohol is ingested, it reaches the stomach where about 20% of the alcohol absorbs into the blood stream, through small blood vessels. The remaining 80% of the alcohol continues to the small intestine and is absorbed there into the blood stream.
The alcohol flows through the blood stream and is metabolized by the liver, where the alcohol is broken down by enzymes. The liver can, on average, metabolize about one standard drink (i.e. one 12 ounce bottle of beer, one 5 ounce glass of wine or 1.5 ounces of 40% alcohol) in one hour. Alcohol consumed in addition to these amounts can generally not be processed by the liver. When this happens, your blood becomes saturated and the additional alcohol makes its way to your body tissues and blood stream, until your liver can process the excess alcohol. (Source: http://www.bloodalcohol.info/how-alcohol-affects-your-body.php)
Alcohol can alter sleep patterns, basic motor function, and thoughts and emotions. Additionally, memory problems are fairly common among adolescents who consume alcohol.
Recent studies show that moderate use of alcohol may have a beneficial effect on the coronary system. In general, for healthy people, one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men would be considered the maximum amount of alcohol consumption to be considered moderate use. For persons under the age of 21 there is no healthy or legal amount of alcohol. -
National Survey on Drug Use and Health
According to the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 10.7 million Americans between ages 12-20 report current alcohol consumption; this represents nearly 28% of this age group for whom alcohol consumption is illegal. Among 12-20 year olds, the 2007 rates of past month consumption and binge drinking have remained relatively unchanged since the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. (Source: SAMHSA, 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2008)Among older age groups, the prevalence of current alcohol consumption decreases with increasing age, however, among America’s youth the rate of current alcohol consumption increases with increasing age according to the 2007 survey, ranging from 2% at age 12 to 5% at age 13, 10% at age 14, 19% at age 15, 23% at age 16, 35% at age 17, 42% at age 18, 54% at age 19, and 58% at age 20. (Source: SAMHSA, 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2008)
Monitoring the Future
The 2008 Monitoring the Future survey revealed the consumption of alcohol by teens has declined considerably since recent peaks in consumption were reached in the mid-1990s. Overall, there was a decline in the annual rate of alcohol consumption among 10th and 12th graders from 2007 to 2008, with both grade levels reaching new record low levels, whereas annual consumption among 8th graders was relatively unchanged. The almost 4% decline in annual consumption among 10th graders was statistically significant from 56.3% in 2007 to 52.5% in 2008. Annual consumption rates among 8th and 12th graders for 2008 were 32.1% and 65.5%, respectively.Nearly four out of ten students have consumed alcohol at least once by the end of eighth grade and slightly more than seven out of ten students have done so by the end of high school. That is, 39% of eighth grade students, 58% of tenth graders, and 72% of twelfth graders report they have tried alcohol at least once in their lifetime. These figures represent a statistically significant decline in lifetime alcohol consumption of more than 3% among 10th graders, while lifetime consumption among 8th and 12th graders remained relatively unchanged from 2007. (Source: University of Michigan, Monitoring the Future, 2008)
In 2008, reported monthly consumption rates declined among 10th and 12th graders, while 8th grade prevalence remained essentially the same. The percentage of students at all three grade levels who said they had been drunk in the month prior to the survey decreased from one year ago. Reported declines in prevalence rates for past month and been drunk among 10th grade students were statistically significant from 2007 to 2008. Ten-year trends continue to show significant reductions in both of these measures at each grade level. (Source: University of Michigan, Monitoring the Future, 2008)
Specifically, 16% of 8th graders report consuming alcohol in the past month, down 37% proportionally from 25% in 1991. Tenth graders’ reported monthly consumption rate is down 33% from 43% in 1991 to 29% in 2007, and 12th graders’ 30-day consumption rate of 43% is down 20% proportionally from 54% in 1991. Both 10th and 12th grade 30-day prevalence ratings reached record low levels in 2007. (Source: University of Michigan, Monitoring the Future, 2008)Setting a historic low, all three grades showed a decrease in self-reported been drunk in the past 30-days from 2007 to 2008 – 5% of 8th graders, 14% of 10th graders, and 28% of 12th graders. (Source: University of Michigan, Monitoring the Future, 2008)
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To determine parents' perspective on the legal consequences of underage drinking, we commissioned a survey of over 1,000 adults. The results show that overwhelmingly, 96% of adults and parents alike do not believe it is acceptable for parents or other adults to provide beverage alcohol to underage youth.
Further, all survey respondents said if they learned another parent or adult provided alcohol to their teenager without their permission, they would consider taking recourse against the other parent, or their child. The top actions adults would take include:
- Speaking with my child about the dangers and consequences of underage drinking (93%)
- Call that adult and express my objections/feelings/opinions (86%)
- Restrict my child's time at that family's house (80%)
- Limit my child's relationship with that family (76%)
- Notify other parents (74%)
- Punish my own child (69%)
Other actions adults report they would take if such an incident occurred include calling the police (44%), reporting the incident to the school (40%), and taking legal action, such as file charges, sue them, etc. (34%). (Source: TCC, Harris Interactive, Quorum, January 2006)
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Why Youth Say They Drink
When asked why today’s youth drink alcohol, 51% report neither they nor their friends drink. Among reasons cited by youth for why teens drink, 41% say to have a good time followed by celebrate (30%). Nearly three in ten teens (28%) say they drink to get drunk, and two in ten teens say to feel good (24%) or de-stress/relax (21%). (Source: The Century Council, TRU, Omnibuzz February 2003)Where Youth Drink Alcohol
A lack of parental supervision appears to be the key ingredient in where today’s youth drink alcohol. When asked where underage drinking takes place, seven in ten teens cited parties with no parents home, followed by 61% of teens saying drinking occurs at their friends homes when the parents are not home. Other locations include parties in remote locations (48%), parties when parents are home (43%), and at events (34%). (View Where Kids Drink chart.) (Source: The Century Council, TRU, Lifestyles and Marketing Study Wave 42, 2003)
Where Youth Get Alcohol
Family and friends are the leading source of alcohol for today's youth. When 10-18 year olds were asked the question, "How do you and your friends get the alcohol you drink" a majority (65%) of today’s youth who have consumed alcohol in the past year report family and friends as the leading source from which they get alcohol. (Source: The Century Council, TRU, Omnibuzz May 2003) Youth report contributing family and friend sources include older siblings or friends, parents allow me to have it, and taking it from my home or a friend’s home without permission. (View Where Youth Get Alcohol chart.) In a separate study, parents with children ages 18 and younger were also asked how do you think today's youth get the alcohol they drink. A majority (53%) of parents cited family and friends as the leading source of alcohol for today's youth. (Source: The Century Council, Wirthlin Worldwide, Quorum May 2003) Overall, kids and parents alike identify the same sources of alcohol for today’s youth.Recent government studies among the nation’s youth have also confirmed parents as one of the leading sources of alcohol. According to the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health the majority of underage drinkers (ages 12-20), 61%, report getting their alcohol from adults such as parents, guardians, other family members or unrelated adults. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control’s 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported that the majority (66%) of 9th-12th graders who reported past-month consumption said that someone gave them alcohol or bought alcohol for them.
Influence of Parents
Despite being identified by youth as one of their primary sources of alcohol, hands down, parents are the most influential person or thing in a child’s decision not to drink at all or not to drink on occasion. (View Leading Influences On Why Youth Don't Drink chart.) (Source: The Century Council, TRU, Omnibuzz May 2003) Seventy-four percent of youth report parents are the leading influence in their decision to drink or not drink. (Source: Roper Youth Report, 2008)Regardless of the source of alcohol, youth report access to alcohol is easy. According to the 2008 Monitoring the Future Study 92% of 12th graders, 81% of 10th graders, and 64% of 8th graders getting alcohol would be "fairly easy" or "very easy" for them to get alcohol.
Why Youth Don’t Drink
Sixty-six percent of today’s youth say they choose not to drink at all or not to drink on occasion because they don’t want to. Other leading reasons youth cite about why they don’t drink alcohol include it’s unsafe/unhealthy (62%), it’s illegal (57%), parents ask/tell me not to (54%), it’s not cool (49%), I’m afraid of getting caught and getting in trouble (24%), and it would hurt my athletic performance (22%). (View Why Youth Choose Not to Drink chart.) (Source: The Century Council, TRU, Omnibuzz February 2003) -
Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for 15- to 20-year olds. In 2007, 6,982 15- to 20-year old drivers were involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes, including 3,174 where 15- to 20-year old drivers were killed. More specifically, in 2007, 31%, or 984, young drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 who were killed in a crash had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .01 or higher, and 26% (or 825) had a BAC of .08 or higher. For young drivers (15- to 20-year olds) alcohol involvement in fatal crashes is higher among male drivers than their female peers – 26% among males compared to 14% among females. (Source: NHTSA/FARS, “Young Drivers” 2008)
