Estimate of the Commercial Value of Underage Drinking & Adult Abusive and Dependent Drinking to the Alcohol Industry

This study estimated the quantity and cash value of underage drinking and adult alcohol dependency drinking. The researchers analyzed 2001 market data and three sources of alcohol abuse data. A total of 260,580 persons aged 12 and older were evaluated across the four data sources.

The 2001 cash value of underage drinking was $22.5 billion in the United States. It constituted 17% of total alcohol revenues in 2001. Adult alcohol dependency contributed a cash value of $25.8 billion. The combined value of underage and adult abusive drinking was $48.3 billion, and constituted 37.5% of total revenues.

The researchers noted that these valuations are estimates predicated on drinkers consuming standardized amounts of alcoholic beverages. The valuations are also based on average consumptions of various alcohol products and may not reflect actual consumption practices by underage and problem drinkers. The study was done to estimate the contribution these groups make to total alcohol product revenues.