According to a new report out of the State Criminal Justice Information Authority, teen drinking is down in Illinois, but still concerning. The data shows that alcohol consumption by teens dropped by about eight percent between 2008 and 2017 according to Acting Research Director Jessica Reichert.
Alcohol related arrests were also down in Illinois by about twenty five percent from 2005 to 2019. Despite the decreases, Reichert says alcohol use by you remains an important health and safety issue since drinking can lead to risky behaviors, affect schoolwork and alter brain development.
While figures are below the national average, fifty seven percent of teens say they have tried alcohol, twenty seven percent say they currently drink and twelve percent admitted to binge drinking.
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