Underage drinking is widespread in the United States. Approximately 13,334,000 underage minors in the U.S. drink each year. In 2007, according to surveys by the U.S. students in grades 9-12:
- 75% had at least one drink of alcohol on one or more days during their life.
- 24% had their first drink of alcohol, other than a few sips, before age 13.
- 45% had at least one drink of alcohol on one or more occasion in the past 30 days.
- 26% had five or more drinks of alcohol in a row in the past 30 days.
- 4% had at least one drink of alcohol on school property on one or more of the past 30 days.
In 2007, underage drinkers consumed 14.5% of all alcohol sold, totaling $24.2 billion in sales. These sales provided profits of $11.9 billion to the alcohol industry.