CHAPTER 1

The Problem and Its Scope

Alcohol has been cited as the drug of choice among the youth (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 2006). It is prevalent, enduring, and rampant across the majority of the different realms worldwide. Underage drinking is when anyone under the minimum legal drinking age drinks alcohol. Aside from being illegal, it is a widespread public health problem that poses much risk attracting many developing adolescents and teens. The use of alcohol is a worldwide concern resulting to millions of death, including hundreds of thousands of young lives lost. Indicators revealed that underage drinking seem to be on the rise among the adolescents. Statistics showed the assessment of the five-year trend of under-age drinking where out of 73 responding countries, 71 percent indicated an increase, 4 percent a decrease, 8 percent were stable and 16 percent showed inconclusive trends (World Health Organization [WHO] Global Survey on Alcohol and Health, 2011).
According to the World Health Report (2002) alcohol is responsible for 4 percent of total diseases burden and 3.2 percent of all premature deaths. It is associated with more than 60 types of diseases and other health conditions, including mental disorders and suicide, several types of cancer, and other non- communicable diseases such as cirrhosis, as well as intentional and unintentional injuries. It is very dangerous and harmful for the health and well-being of people especially the young ones who are considered the future nation-builders.
Though progress and movements have been being made, underage drinking remains a persistent problem. In the Philippines, alcohol is widely consumed by the youth. According to the Drug and Abuse Rehab Asia (2009), the Filipinos are the second highest consumers of alcohol in South East Asia (the Indonesians are first), and the