The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) hails today’s re-introduction of the bi-partisan, bi-cameral STOP Underage Drinking Act (S. 408 in the Senate/H.R. 864 in the House).  We applaud the hard work of the lead sponsors, Senators DeWine and Dodd and Representatives Roybal-Allard, Wolf, Wamp, DeLauro, and Osborne, who have stimulated a necessary conversation on the federal responsibility to do more to protect young lives.

The “STOP Underage Drinking Act” recognizes the great need to begin addressing the many harms related to underage drinking.   Alcohol is the leading drug problem among young people in the United States, and a factor in the four leading causes of death among children and teenagers.  Underage drinking contributes to the deaths of 6.5 times more young people than all illicit drugs combined.

This bill provides a launching pad for the eventual implementation of many of the recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine’s September 2003 report to Congress.  That report concluded that “[t]he problem of underage drinking in the United States is endemic...and is not likely to improve in the absence of significant new intervention.”  Only yesterday, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released new state-level data on prevalence of youth substance use.  SAMHSA Director, Charles Curie, highlighted youth alcohol consumption, noting: “We’re seeing illicit drug use among youth go down, but we’re seeing binge drinking remain stubbornly at the same levels.” 

Clearly, we need action to address alcohol consumption among young people.  The STOP Act can set this country off in the right direction.   The bill proposes a pilot adult-oriented national media campaign that could grow to become the “centerpiece” of a comprehensive national strategy to combat underage drinking.  The bill also modestly funds vital community and campus initiatives, monitoring of alcohol advertising, and important research.  It provides for improved governmental coordination and reporting.  We look forward to working with the sponsors and other members of Congress to move this important legislation forward and to implement additional efforts to combat underage drinking.