Underage Drinking: Information on Federal Funds Targeted at Prevention

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Many studies have found significant alcohol consumption among youth, even though the purchase and public possession of alcohol by persons under the age of 21 are illegal in every state and the District of Columbia. This report discusses (1) the amount of federal funds earmarked for preventing underage drinking in fiscal year 2000 and (2) funded programs in fiscal year 2000 that included efforts to publicize in the media the problem of underage drinking. An estimated $71 million of fiscal year 2000 appropriated federal funds specifically targeted the prevention of underage drinking. In addition, many federal agencies had program activities that addressed prevention of underage drinking but for which agency officials could not isolate funding specific to alcohol.