Underage drinking has costed California billions according to a new study.
The study, conducted by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, reports that in 2010 $6.8 billion went toward problems related to underage drinking in the state.
Several issues were included into the study such as violence, property crime and high risk sex.
Nearly $3.8 million went toward youth violence (homicide, suicide, aggravated assault) and traffic crashes related to youth drinking accounted for $1.1 million, according to the study.
Health issues were also represented in the findings such as Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) among teen mothers, which ended up costing the state $152 million.
Nearly 1.4 million minors consume alcohol each year in California.
In San Diego, a survery done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that in 2009 69.4% of high school students in the county said they have drank in their lifetime.
Local
“There is no reason for our children to die or suffer permanent injuries from drinking," said Eric Collins, Program Manager of the San Diego County Binge and Underage Drinking Initiative.
"We all have a responsibility to protect our children and their future by changing the culture that allows underage and binge drinking to be commonplace in our communities," Collins added.
