What Is the Legal Drinking Age?

 

The legal drinking age in South Carolina is twenty-one years old. South Carolina has a zero tolerance law for minors operating motor vehicles. If an officer checks their BAC (blood alcohol content) and it reads higher than .02

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LINK: Highlight on underage drinking

 

What Is Zero Tolerance? 

 

Persons under the age of 21 may not legally purchase, possess or consume alcoholic beverages. Zero tolerance refers to statutes which make it illegal for persons under the age of 21 to operate a motor vehicle with any measurable amount of alcohol in their system. Under South Carolina’s zero tolerance law, it is unlawful for any person under the age of 21 to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.02 percent or higher.

 

LINK: Blood Alcohol Content Level Chart/PDF
 

Health Risks

 

Underage drinking can have serious health consequences. Adolescent brains are still developing, and alcohol can negatively impact this development, leading to long-term cognitive and emotional problems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Children who drink alcohol are more likely to:

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1. Use drugs — Frequent binge drinkers (nearly 1 million high school students nationwide) are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, including using other drugs such as marijuana and cocaine.

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2. Get bad grades — Children who use alcohol have higher rates of academic problems and poor school performance compared with nondrinkers.

 

3. Suffer injury or death — In 2009, an estimated 1,844 homicides; 949,400 nonfatal violent crimes such as rape, robbery, and assault; and 1,811,300 property crimes, including burglary, larceny, and car theft were attributed to underage drinking.

 

4. Engage in risky sexual activity — Young people who use alcohol are more likely to be sexually active at earlier ages, to have sexual intercourse more often, and to have unprotected sex.

 

5. Make bad decisions — Drinking lowers inhibitions and increases the chances that children will engage in risky behavior or do something that they will regret when they are sober.

 

6. Have health problems — Young people who drink are more likely to have health issues such as depression and anxiety disorders.

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(Source: CDC)

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Physical Effects 

 

Alcohol can impair coordination, judgment, and reaction time. This can increase the risk of accidents, injuries, and even fatalities, especially when combined with activities like driving.

 

Individuals with long-term alcohol problems may develop a number of negative physical health problems including: cirrhosis, liver disease, and memory issues.

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Social Consequences

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 Underage drinking can lead to risky behaviors, including unprotected sex, violence, and involvement in criminal activities. It might also affect academic performance and future opportunities.”

 

LINK: Know the Risks of Underage Drinking (Drinkaware)

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Addiction/Dependency

 

Facts on underage drinking — “Alcohol continues to be the most widely used substance of abuse among American youth, and a higher proportion use alcohol than tobacco marijuana, or other drugs.

 

The Council on Recovery: 8 Shocking Statistics About Underage Drinking — “Individuals who began drinking before the age of 15 are more apt to abuse alcohol or develop alcohol dependence later in life than those who abstained from drinking until the age of 21.”

 

Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder, Alcohol Dependence, and Treatment Options — There are generally three stages of alcohol use disorder:  

1. Denial about having an alcohol problem

2. Loss of control

3. Deterioration

 

LINK: Stages of Alcohol Use Disorder (Caron.org)

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Peer Pressure

LINK: Facts About Peer Pressure and Drinking (Alcohol.org)

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