Underage drinking is vital to liquor industry profits in two ways, says a recent study in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Underage drinkers are a $22.5 billion market for alcoholic beverages. Moreover, underage drinkers are much more likely to turn into heavy drinkers or alcoholics when they grow up. More than 96 per cent of adult alcoholics started drinking before age 21. Adults who abuse alcohol or are dependent on it are a $25 billion market for alcoholic beverages. These two categories together -- underage drinkers and adult alcohol abusers or dependents -- make up nearly 40 per cent of the market for alcoholic beverages in the U.S. The study authors say "the alcohol industry has a compelling financial motive to attempt to maintain or increase rates of underage drinking.”
A summary of the study was published by the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) at the University of Maryland in a weekly bulletin available online here.
1 comment:
40% of the market, thats a hell of a statistic. and very depressing to think that the alcohol producers will not be inclined to take an ethical marketing stand where the margin is so lucrative.
Post a Comment