Our society fully accepts that there is a large, and it seems, growing problem of drinking by teenagers. Alcohol is part of Western society and the majority of Americans enjoy alcohol beverages. To pretend that young people will grow up to enter a world of abstinence is both unrealistic and irresponsible. Even religious groups strongly committed to abstinence are not very successful in maintaining it about their young people, the majority of whom drink. This is true even among students attending church supported schools (NHTSA). But how is it that many groups around the world have learned how to consume alcohol widely with almost no problems. For example, the Italians. The success of the Italians has been lead by three parts. Beliefs about the substance of alcohol, the act of drinking, and education about drinking. Within the Italian lifestyle, alcohol, is seen as neutral. It is neither a terrible poison nor it a magic substance that can transform people into things they want to be or people that want to be with. Also, the act of drinking is seen as normal. While there is little or no social pressure to drink, but on the other hand there is absolutely no tolerance for abusive drinking. Finally, the education about alcohol starts early and it starts in the home. Young people are taught through their parents" good examples and under their supervision that if they drink, they must do so moderately and responsibly. The problem with America is that we are shunned against alcohol. There are billboards, commercials, magazine ads, and many other advertisements that are encouraging teenagers to drink. In these advertisements the environment is shown as happy and free. Giving you the impression that you can only have fun with alcohol. This is the mind set put into our youths minds at an extremely young age. But the question is how are they getting the alcohol from?.
In America last year, eight billion dollars of alcohol were purchased illegally(NHTSA).