Underage Drinking Glossary According to the government, binge
drinking is defined as occasions of heavy drinking measured by
the consumption of five or more (for males) and four or more
(for females) drinks in a row at least once in the past two
weeks. According to the government, heavy alcohol use is defined
as five or more drinks on the same occasion on 5 or more days in
the past 30 days. Underage drinking refers to the consumption of
beverage alcohol, defined as defined as a can or bottle of beer,
a glass of wine or a wine cooler, a shot of liquor, or a mixed
drink with liquor in it, by persons 20 years of age and younger.
Since 1988, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have laws
that make it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase
or publicly possess alcoholic beverages. While each state’s law
varies and may contain exceptions (e.g., religious ceremonies)
it is generally considered illegal for anyone under 21 to
consume alcohol.