Is Underage Drinking A Major Public Health Risk?

I was glancing at google when the article from about.com popped up with the heading Underage Drinking: A Major Public Health Challenge. The website URL is below:
http://alcoholism.about.com/library/blnaa59.htm

While reading this article, the author makes some strong points about alcoholism and becoming dependent on alcohol caused by underage drinking. He also describes the many risks associated with alcohol. I may not agree with the authors' opinions of alcohol but what they are saying need to be taken into account. Truth is, alcoholism and alcohol dependency are not always associated with underage drinking. Statistics show that there are many other contributing factors or causes of these various alcohol disorders. But thats not what I am focusing on today. I am going to address the various increased risks and dangers of underage drinking and I'm sure most of you have already heard of some of these. Keep in mind that adolescence  is the time between childhood and adulthood. It is when we change from a child to an adult. The four major risks with drinking in general are: (copied from website)
Drinking and Driving. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among youth ages 15 to 20 (8). Adolescents already are at increased risk through their relative lack of driving experience (9), and drivers younger than 21 are more susceptible than older drivers to the alcohol–induced impairment of driving skills (4,9). The rate of fatal crashes among alcohol–involved drivers between 16 and 20 years old is more than twice the rate for alcohol–involved drivers 21 and older (10).
Suicide. Alcohol use interacts with conditions such as depression and stress to contribute to suicide, the third leading cause of death among people between the ages of 14 and 25 (11,12). In one study, 37 percent of eighth grade females who drank heavily reported attempting suicide, compared with 11 percent who did not drink (13).
Sexual Assault. Sexual assault, including rape, occurs most commonly among women in late adolescence and early adulthood, usually within the context of a date (14). In one survey, approximately 10 percent of female high school students reported having been raped (5). Research suggests that alcohol use by the offender, the victim, or both, increases the likelihood of sexual assault by a male acquaintance (15).
High–Risk Sex. Research has associated adolescent alcohol use with high–risk sex (for example, having multiple sexual partners and failing to use condoms). The consequences of high–risk sex also are common in this age group, particularly unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS (5). According to a recent study, the link between high–risk sex and drinking is affected by the quantity of alcohol consumed. The probability of sexual intercourse is increased by drinking amounts of alcohol sufficient to impair judgment, but decreased by drinking heavier amounts that result in feelings of nausea, passing out, or mental confusion (16).
http://alcoholism.about.com/library/blnaa59.htm

There are risks with drinking no matter what age and in most cases all of these risks happen with underage drinkers and legal aged drinkers. As a society we need to educate our children about the risks, but also not hinder them from drinking. After all of these years why  has our system  NOT worked? Something needs to be done, I truly think that whether the drinking age is 18, 19 or 21 you will never fully get rid of the risks. Education is the key to helping our young generations make smart decisions about alcohol, even if they refuse to decrease the drinking age. Risk is always a factor, keep that in mind with whatever you do in life.