CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – April is Alcohol Awareness Month. New Tennessee data shows some of the most serious consequences tied to teen drinking are increasing.
A 2025 report from the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission found that youth alcohol-related crashes, emergency room visits, and hospital admissions all increased in recent years.
Crashes among youth ages 13 to 19 increased 209% between 2019 and 2023. Emergency room visits for ages 10 to 20 increased 22.5% from 2020 to 2023.
Hospital admissions for the same age group increased 49.4% over the same period. The report also found a 17% increase in underage alcohol sale violations from 2022 to 2024.
Roughly one in three Tennessee students has consumed alcohol before graduating high school.
The average age of first drink among youth who drink is approximately 13. Only two in five students reported that alcohol is difficult to obtain.
National data shows that teen alcohol use is lower than in 2021.
The 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 13.3% of people ages 12 to 20 used alcohol in the past month. About 7.6% reported binge drinking in the past month.
Alcohol remains the most commonly used substance among people under 21. Alcohol use among this age group is linked to injuries, crashes, and emergency medical care.
