• 17.8% of NJ's 8th graders used alcohol in the past 30 days.
• 10% of NJ's 7th graders used alcohol in the past 30 days.
• 46.4% of NJ's 7th and 8th graders have used alcohol sometime in their lifetime.
• Of NJ’s 7th graders who used alcohol, they reported first use at age 11.3. 8th graders at 12.
• Of NJ’s 7th graders who used alcohol they reported regular use of alcohol began at age 11.9, 8th graders at 12.8.
• About 4 in 5 (78.5 percent) of NJ's High School students have used alcohol sometime in their lifetime and nearly one-half (48 percent) used alcohol in the past 30 days.
• Nationally, 12% of 8th graders, 22% of 10th graders, and 29% of 12th graders report having consumed five or more drinks in a row in the last two weeks.
• A large majority of 8th graders (67 percent), 10th graders (85 percent) and 12th graders (95 percent) say that it is "fairly easy" or "very easy" to get alcohol.

GET THE FACTS. THEY'RE SOBERING. POSTERS.

NCADD-NJ would like to help you GET THE FACTS about youth drinking. These color, glossy 11" x 17" posters have been made available to help spread the facts to your family, friends and neighbors. Let's work together to prevent addiction from taking hold in our children by distributing the posters in our neighborhoods and communities. Please consider putting the posters up at schools, meetings, places of worship and at work.

Posters are available in quantities of 10, 25, 50 and 100 at a small fee of $1.50 per poster including shipping and can be purchased by visiting our online store. For additional information please contact Jackie Gonzalez at 609-689-0121 or email at jgonzalez@ncaddnj.org

To order other Sobering Facts materials

Consequences of Use

• In 2000, 30 percent of 15-20 year old drivers who were killed in car crashes had been drinking. 21 percent in this group were legally intoxicated.
• 27.9% of NJ's 7th and 8th graders who used alcohol in the past 30 days got F's.
• 28 percent of suicides ages 9-15 can be attributed to alcohol.
• 39 percent of high school boys said it was acceptable to force sex with a girl who was drunk or high.
• Almost 12 percent of adolescent drinkers (about 1.2 million 7th-12th graders) engage in alcohol-related physical fighting.
• Those who start drinking before age 14 are eleven times more likely to have ever been in a fight while drinking or after drinking than adults who began drinking after the age of 21.
• Those who start drinking before age 14 are twelve times more likely to be injured while under the influence of alcohol sometime in their life.
• More than 40 percent of individuals who begin drinking before age 13 will develop alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency at some point in their lives.
  
  Statistics last updated 10/22/04

A Reflection on Societal Attitudes

Youth

"There's nothing to do here. When kids have a weekend free, there's nothing to do but drink and do drugs."

West Windsor teen, explaining to the township council why he's against a new ordinance banning underage drinking on private property. "W. Windsor Council adopts drinking law" Trenton Times, Nov. 11 2003.

Parents

"Parents striving to impress teens with cool behavior, such as buying alcohol for their children and their children's friends, is relatively common" - Detective Kelly Godley

"Woman Charged with giving alcohol to teens; Two boys treated at hospital for alcohol poisoning" Independent, Dec. 31, 2003.

Media

War against teen drinking is overkill

"…anecdotal outbreaks of youthful exuberance hardly constitute an epidemic."
Princeton Packet Editorial, Nov 14, 2003

Confronting New Jersey's Underage Drinking Problem: Increase the State Alcohol Excise Tax
This paper outlines a proposal to have New Jersey increase its excise tax on alcohol to create a price barrier to underage drinking and to use a portion of the additional revenue for a comprehensive underage drinking program. The paper documents how many adolescents drink and how much they consume, one the most alarming facts being that they account for 20 percent of all alcohol purchased in the United States.

Confronting New Jersey's Underage Drinking Problem: Policy Recommendations
This document is a continuation of NCADD-NJ's April 2003 white paper on underage drinking. It proposes policy recommendations beyond an alcohol tax increase that the agency believes should be considered in New Jersey to further address this wide-spread public health problem.

Become a Member and Take Action!

THINK YOU CAN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
THINK AGAIN.

Support An Increase in the Alcohol Excise Tax to Fund Comprehensive Underage Drinking Effort
An increase in the excise tax on alcohol is a natural complement to the governor's plan to once again increase the tax on cigarettes. But while the cigarette tax revenue is to bolster the general fund, a portion of the alcohol tax increase should be dedicated to funding a comprehensive underage drinking program and to expanding addiction treatment that has dramatically diminished over the past decade. Like increased cigarette taxes, increased alcohol taxes are an effective means of deterring and reducing youth alcohol use because younger people are generally more price sensitive which helps delay and reduce drinking among youths.

Support Keg Registration
Beer kegs are often a main source of alcohol at youth parties. When law enforcement officers arrive at these parties, people quickly disperse, and the police have no way of knowing who purchased the keg if it isn't tagged. Beer keg registration laws require retailers to place an identifying tag on each beer keg sold at retail and collect information on the purchaser's identity. This allows police to identify the purchaser of any keg that may be used to provide beer to underage drinkers.

Join Efforts to Curb Youth Use of Alcohol
By becoming a member of Think Advocacy, you will participate in encouraging legislators and State officials to support critical issues like the ongoing efforts to reduce use of alcohol by New Jersey's youth.