No alcohol-related issue sparks more concern – and contention – than underage drinking. Despite the nationwide legal drinking age of 21, alcohol consumption among young people is a significant problem, with no simple solutions in sight.

While researchers cite various statistics about the magnitude of underage drinking, we at Pernod Ricard USA see one truism about the issue that can be addressed – young people obtain alcohol from adults. Those adults are siblings, parents, older friends or even willing strangers.

Our view is that all adults should accept responsibility and combat underage drinking. It is all too easy to make excuses … to deceive yourself that there is nothing wrong in what you are doing and look the other way. This site contains information on the role of self-deception in alcohol issues, including how to recognize it and overcome it.

Clearly, the issue of underage drinking requires multi-pronged solutions, especially better education for young people about the effects of alcohol on their physiological and mental development and more effective control over the sale of alcohol to minors. Pernod Ricard USA is committed to help support solutions. Meanwhile, we believe that adults accepting responsibility for their own actions regarding underage drinking is the surest and most effective way to make an immediate impact on the problem.

Please see our Links & Resources page for a selection from the many, independent information resources about binge drinking that are available to youth, adults and parents. In turn, many of these sites include links to additional information on alcohol issues.