Alcohol Affects Youth Differently Than Adults

• Alcohol affects a child's developing brain differently than an adult brain.
• A child's brain goes though rapid change and development between the ages of 10-21. Drinking alcohol before age 21 can cause permanent brain damage.
• Alcohol damage can cause your child to:
  • have poor judgment
  • develop social problems
  • get into trouble
  • do poorly in school
  • have problems attaining life-long goals
• Underage drinking can also lead to early alcoholism:
  • More than 40% of individuals who start drinking before the age of 15 develop alcoholism at some point in their life.
  • If they begin drinking at age 21, they have a 7% chance.

Facts from the American Medical Association Report & National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol Damage to the Adolescent Brain

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