What about the teens who had one, two, or three drinks? Certainly, those percentages are much higher.



According to attorney Michael Monheit, Esq., "underage drinking and driving is a serious problem."

"Of course, the media doesn't help when they exploit underage celebrities like Lindsay Lohan and her girlfriends who are out partying every night and smashing their Cadillac SUVs into poles and people," continues Monheit. Is Ms. Lohan an exception?

Underage drinking is more common than you would think. What does it say about our society that by the time Lohan turns 21-- the legal age for drinking -- she's been in and out of rehab more than once. Monheit explains that "Rehab even seems to be a status symbol among the rich, famous, and perpetually drunk." Thus, not only are parents comparing notes about what colleges their kids attend but also what underage drinking rehab centers have the best programs.

Most likely, if you're a single parent or dual-parent household living a normal life (whatever that is?), your underage kids aren't coping with the side effects of celebrity and paparazzi. But they are coping with peer pressure, wanting to fit in and be cool, and a myriad of other side effects of real teen and young adult life.

Underage drinking at bars happens every day especially in college towns where the drinking age is 21. Who can wait? That's an eternity when there are fake IDs or no IDs required, which is a huge liability for bars serving minors.

The effects of underage drinking and driving are huge. Drinking alcohol dulls the senses while giving the underage drinker a false sense of bravado and laissez-faire...who me? Drinking alcohol diminishes responsibilities for self and others.

Your kids are no longer strapped to your chest in a baby carrier so giving them some ground rules and values are the first step. Then again, how many of them have the self-esteem and courage to tell their friends that, no, they are not going to have a beer at a party; not going to play popular drinking games; or not go into a bar that turns the other cheek while serving minors alcoholic beverages without closely checking IDs.