Underage drinking is a problem in all 50 states. Not one has introduced a law or policy that can effectively wipe out the risk of minors acquiring and consuming alcohol. Some states, however, are more effective than others at prevention, education and discipline in the area of underage drinking.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NDSUH) administers a national survey that includes questions on the use of alcohol by adolescents. While all 50 states have made it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to be in possession of alcohol, adolescents are still acquiring it and still consuming it.

Each state has had authority for alcohol control since 1933, and with information provided by surveys like the one given by the NSDUH, the states can improve their programs to prevent and educate adolescents about the risks of alcohol use.

The NSDUH questions respondents about their alcohol use in the last 30 days, including asking those who have consumed alcohol in the last 30 days whether they paid for the alcohol. Those who did pay for the alcohol are asked whether they purchased the beverage or paid someone else to buy it for them.

The results of the survey found that 27.6 percent of individuals between the ages of 12 and 20 drank alcohol in the last month. Utah reported the lowest past-month alcohol use at 13.7 percent, while North Dakota and Vermont came in highest at 40.6 percent and 40.4 percent, respectively.

Six out of ten states with the highest past-month alcohol consumption were in the Northeast, and six of ten states with the lowest past-month alcohol consumption were in the South.

Of those who consumed alcohol in the past month, 8.6 percent purchased their own alcohol the last time they drank. Alaska and New Mexico reported the lowest rate of adolescents purchasing their own alcohol, at 3.1 and 3.7 percent. Louisiana and the District of Columbia had the highest rates, both at 18.8 percent.

Six of the states with the highest rates of self-purchased alcohol were in the South (Alabama, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina and the District of Columbia). Five of the states with the lowest rates of self-purchased alcohol were in the Midwest (Indiana, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota).

The results of the survey highlight the continuing challenges to states to find new ways to address the problem of underage drinking. No state is unaffected by the risks teenagers take when they drink, and information provided by the NSDUH can give state officials the tools they need to make effective prevention and enforcement policy.