EL PASO, Texas -- The U.S. Surgeon General is kicking off a series of town hall meetings to raise awareness about underage drinking. The campaign comes on the heels of a new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

In the report data shows that 28.3 percent of 12 to 20 year old individuals drink alcohol and last month they drank on an average of 5.9 days.

The report also found that on the days they drank alcoholic beverages, they drank more alcohol per day than people aged 21 and older.

“The fact that so many kids are dying in accidents proves that underage drinking is pretty rampant and we need to do something about it," said Ruth Rosas.

The El Paso based Rio Grande Safe Communities Coalition is hosting a town hall meeting on April 23 at El Paso Community College.

Rio Grande Safe Communities reported preliminary data showing that in 2006, 32 percent of people arrested for driving while intoxicated in El Paso were minors.

In Texas last year, 1,677 people died in crashes where alcohol was involved according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

Some who are not old enough to drink have already lived with the consequences of alcohol.

"I've seen a lot of things in my family that have affected me,” said Kimberly Munoz. “I don't want to become it or have anything to do with it."

And there is hope that some youngsters can change.

"I used to be a party boy, but I met somebody, right here my fiancé,” said Leonel Salayandia. “I made a sound choice for my future."