@MISC{_officeof, author = {}, title = {Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Drinking in America: Myths, Realities, and Prevention Policy Myths About American Drinking}, year = {} }
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Abstract
“Alcohol is an integral part of American life. It is a normal accompaniment to most social events. Most Americans enjoy drinking on a regular basis. ” These are widely held perceptions about alcohol—created in part by alcohol advertising and popular culture. But these perceptions are not entirely true. These perceptions—and misperceptions—affect our attitudes toward alcohol and our policies regarding the sale to and consumption of alcohol by youth as well as adults. This paper provides a more realistic picture of who drinks, how much, and how often. It compares the drinking patterns of adults to those of people under age 21. It then analyzes the implications of these drinking patterns for alcohol policy. Alcohol: Counting the cost UPDATED FOR 2002 NATIONAL SURVEY ON DRUG USE AND HEALTH ture all of alcohol’s social and health toll; more than one-third of Americans report that alcohol has caused prob-2 lems in their immediate family. When society views drinking as a normal and accepted part of life, these problems may seem inevitable. Some of this view is based on misperception of drinking patterns. A more accurate picture has implications for strategies to reduce alcohol-related problems. Adults: Who drinks and how much?