Granite State Reports Progress Curbing Teen Drinking

The rate of underage drinking by high school students has decreased in New Hampshire, as well as the number of outlets selling alcohol to minors, according to a report by a nonprofit advocacy group.

However, alcohol remains the No. 1 youth drug problem in New Hampshire, with almost one in five high school students taking their first drink of alcohol before the age of 13, according to the report by New Futures.

“Underage drinking costs the state of New Hampshire $180 million each year, taking into account medical care, work loss, crime and accidents,” said John Bunker, executive director of New Futures.

The report said that collective efforts to address underage drinking — by increasing awareness of the scope and harm of alcohol and other drug problems, and enacting public policies at the state and local levels — have made a difference.

“It is critical that we continue to address our resources on raising the level of awareness, public policy interventions and broad community efforts,” said Mary Ann Cooney, director of the state Health and Human Service Department’s division of public health services.