Nine out of ten (90%) American teens report that drinking is not worth the consequences it can cause.
When asked what worries them the most about drinking alcohol:
- 39% of teens report getting in trouble with the law as their top worry.
- 14% report they worry about getting suspended or expelled from school.
(Source: TCC, Opinion Research Corp, Caravan, February 2008)
If caught drinking, teens report that the foremost punishment that would stop or keep them from doing it again would be:
- getting in trouble with the police/law (68%)
- getting in trouble or suspended from school (55%).
- getting suspended or kicked off the team/club (44%)
- getting grounded (42%)
- losing computer/Internet/IM (or Internet chat room) privileges (42%)
- getting kicked out of the house (41%)
- getting yelled at (37%)
- losing allowance (33%)
- and losing driving privileges (32%)
(Source: The Century Council, TRU, Omnibuzz May 2003)
Nearly four out of five youth report they are not likely to continue to drink given the threat of punishment if caught drinking – a majority (52%) said the threat of punishment would deter them enough that they would definitely not continue to drink and 25% said they would probably not continue to drink. (Source: The Century Council, TRU, Omnibuzz May 2003)
Unfortunately, the threat of punishment if caught drinking alcohol diminishes with age: 87% of 12 year olds say they would definitely not continue to drink, while only 50% of 13-15 year olds and 46% of 16-18 year olds are likely not to drink given the threat of punishment. However, the threat of punishment does resonant with today’s youth, as only 4% overall report they would definitely continue to drink. (Source: The Century Council, TRU, Omnibuzz May 2003)