Underage drinking is bad. This is very unhealthy and can be extremely dangerous. Not only is it unhealthy and dangerous, but it's also illegal. (Kids don't try this at home). Underage drinking occurs when someone under the legal drinking age of 21 drinks alcohol. Alcoholic beverages include: beer, wine, alcoholic beverages, etc. Underage drinking comes with a heavy toll, as underage drinking carries many risks and serious potential injuries. This can lead to a multitude of problems in adolescents, such as problems with the law, with family, friends, social life, etc. The more teens know about the facts and consequences of this harmful enterprise, the more likely they are to be among the many statistics associated with underage drinking. Every day, more than 4,750 children under the age of 16 drink their first drink of alcohol - an incredible number of young people whose lives could be ruined by a terrible decision made during their lifetime, to drink illegally. Dozens of young children die or suffer serious injuries each year and are punished because of this illegal activity. The number of underage drinkers who suffer serious consequences each year in the United States is in the thousands. All teenagers have their own reasons for engaging in this activity, ultimately no excuse or reason is suitable to justify this foolish decision to drink illegally. All teenagers have their own reasons for drinking illegally. Whether among friends, family or otherwise, underage drinking is never a good thing. There are several reasons why this unhealthy habit can occur. One of these reasons is peer and friend pressure. Some teens have friends they hang out with who have been drinking. A child may feel out of place or think they are in the middle of a paper... that's a huge problem. Not only is this a problem that exists elsewhere, but it is also a problem here, locally. I have heard many stories from people right here at this school about underage drinking and parties they went to where drinking was involved. I will say that often the stories don't end very well, where no one gets caught or gets into trouble. I often hear that people get caught. Underage drinking is a very dangerous practice that often goes unnoticed. Anyone who drinks and is not of legal drinking age should really take it upon themselves to stop. You really don't gain anything by continuing to drink illegally. It's never too late to stop. Your chances of living are also much better when you are sober than when alcohol is present in your body. Don't be another statistic and add to the body count, stop now before it's too late.