Did you know that five thousand people die every year from accidents related to underage drinking? These deaths include car accidents, homicides, suicides and drownings. Excessive underage drinking is the illegal use of alcohol by minors or underage civilians in the United States. Underage drinking is a significant problem in Leland, North Carolina because it is illegal and harms teens. Underage drinking in Leland is caused by peer pressure, hereditary factors and stress, according to the local police force. One solution to underage drinking is to increase the consequences of binge eating. Peer pressure is a major cause of underage drinking. Peer pressure is the influence an individual exerts to encourage others to change their attitudes, values, or behaviors to accommodate group norms. Studies show that 14% of underage drinkers drink solely because of peer pressure, according to Rashmi Katyal (26-30). Peer pressure is a heinous action because it manipulates the mindset of another individual. Some objections to this idea of ​​peer pressure are that an individual is always in control of his or her own actions, no matter what the case may be. This is true, however, Dr. Falk states that 27% of people under the influence of others actually stick to their moral ideas or beliefs (26). Peer pressure contributes to the problem of underage drinking because peers have substantial influence on each other and if one drinks, the other is influenced to do the same. Peer pressure in itself is not a sufficient cause of underage drinking because there are many people who do not fall under the influence, but if it is mixed with other extraneous causes such as heredity... half of the paper. .....ience and Public Health 2.1 (2013), 26-30.Dohmen, T. and A. Falk (2011): “Performance Pay and Multi-Dimensional Sorting: Productivity, Preferences and Gender,” American Economic Review, 101 (2), 556-590. Dick, Danielle M. "Family History and Genetics." NCADD. Np, September 31, 2008. Web. November 17, 2013. Morse, Robert M. “Family History and Genetics.” NCADD. NCADD and Web. November 17, 2013. "Drinking Alcohol to Relieve Stress...A Dangerous Choice." http://www2.fiu.edu/. Florida International University, 2003. Web. November 17, 2013. Health, Colombia. “Drinking to Relieve Stress: A Problem?” Go ask Alice! Columbia Health, July 18, 2013. Web. November 18, 2013. "Drinking alcohol may prolong, not relieve, stress." News from the United States. USNews & World Report, July 15, 2011. Web. Nov. 18, 2013. “NC Alcohol Laws.” NC Alcohol Laws. Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, January 1, 2013. Web. November 29. 2013.